Since 2003, more than 310 Argentine researchers have returned to their homeland; thanks to a campaign which includes new professional opportunities. More than 7,000 Argentine expatriates are being encouraged by the Argentine government and the private sector to repatriate because they are needed to support the economy's high rate of growth. (See Argentina's Scientists Return to their Roots for a glimpse at Argentina's appreciation for their expatriate community.)

From an Australian perspective it is interesting to consider Argentina's campaign, as Australia is gaining a new appreciation for its global ambassadors (See the 2005 Australian Senate enquiry).

The Senate enquiry identified a number of recommendations which have begun to influence Austrade, DFAT, DTIR policies while recognising that a community of nearly 1 million Australians (a population nearly the size of South Australia) is a special resource:

Recommendation 1

The Committee recommended that the Australian Government establish a web portal devoted to the provision of information and services for expatriate Australians.

Recommendation 2

The Committee recommended the establishment of a policy unit within the DFAT, to facilitate the coordination of policies relating to Australian expatriates

Recommendation 3

The Committee recommended that agencies should continue to improve the statistical information collected in relation to Australian expatriates, particularly through the use of incoming and outgoing passenger cards.

Recommendation 4

The Committee recommended that the consular role for foreign missions be revised to contain a specific requirement that posts engage with the local expatriate community, in any and all ways possible appropriate to that location.

Recommendation 5

The Committee recommended that the websites of Australia's foreign missions should include an online registration facility to enable local expatriates to register their professional profiles. The profiles database will facilitate stronger engagement between missions and expatriates, and will provide a resource for missions in their work of promoting Australia's interests overseas. It would also be used to notify expatriates of news and upcoming events.

Recommendation 6

The Committee recommended that the Australian Citizenship Act 1948 be amended to ensure that children of people who previously lost their citizenship under section 17 of the Citizenship Act are eligible to apply for Australian citizenship by descent.

Recommendation 7

The Committee recommends that the Australian Citizenship Act 1948 be amended to ensure that children of people who renounced their citizenship under section 18 of the Citizenship Act are eligible to apply for Australian citizenship by descent.

Recommendation 8

The Committee recommends that the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs conduct a review of section 18 of the Australian Citizenship Act 1948. In particular, the Committee strongly believes that Australian citizenship law and policy needs to continue to evolve to reflect changing global conditions, and our increasingly mobile population.

Recommendation 9

The Committee recommends that the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs establish an advisory committee to review the Australian Citizenship Act 1948 on an ongoing basis to ensure that the legislation appropriately reflects notions of citizenship in the 21st century.

Recommendation 10

The Committee recommended that the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs continually review its website with a view to providing more detailed, accurate and specific advice and information in relation to citizenship issues for Australian expatriates.

Recommendation 11

The Committee recommends that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs work together to improve citizenship advice and services at Australian overseas missions, and in particular that the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs conduct regular training for staff in overseas missions to enable to them to handle queries about citizenship from expatriates.

Recommendation 12

The Committee recommended that the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs provide an internationally accessible phone number for the Citizen Information Phone Line.

Recommendation 13

The Committee recommended that the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 should be amended as follows to assist expatriate Australians to maintain their electoral enrollment:

• Australian citizens moving or living overseas should be entitled to register as an 'Eligible Overseas Elector' if they left Australia in the previous three years, or have returned to Australia (for any length of time) in the past three years; and they intend to resume residence in Australia within six years of their departure; and
• Australian citizens who have been living overseas for over six years should be entitled to renew their enrollment as an Eligible Overseas Elector if they have returned to Australia (for any length of time) within the last three years.

Recommendation 14

The Committee recommended that voting for overseas Australians should continue to be non- compulsory.

Recommendation 15

The Committee recommended that the web portal devoted to the provision of information and services for expatriate Australians should include a page of links to expatriate network websites, to facilitate engagement and information exchange in the expatriate community.

Recommendation 16

The Committee recommends that Australian non-profit organisations such as universities and arts organisations should pursue philanthropic contributions from expatriate Australians, and should combine their efforts to achieve.