The Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Philip Ruddock, announced today that Australia and Sweden had agreed to a mutual Working Holiday Maker (WHM) arrangement for young people.

The announcement follows the signing of the arrangement in Stockholm by Mr Ruddock and the Swedish Minister for Development Cooperation, Migration and Asylum Policy, Ms Maj-Inger Klingvall. "The Australian WHM program has been a huge success since its introduction in the mid-1970s," Mr Ruddock said.

"In 1998-99, 65,000 Working Holiday visas to Australia were issued, up from 57,000 the previous year. Because of its success, the WHM program expanded to almost 75,000 places in 1999-00. "The arrangement with Sweden is a most welcome addition to the program and is indicative of the strength of the relationship that Australia enjoys with Sweden," Mr Ruddock said.

The addition of Sweden brings to nine the number of countries with which Australia has reciprocal WHM arrangements. The others are Canada, Ireland, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and Germany.

Mr Ruddock said WHM schemes promote international understanding by helping young people experience the cultures of other countries.

"Australia's WHM scheme ensures that the citizens of participating countries can get to know Australia and its people and that young Australians can gain a similar understanding while working overseas," he said.

The new arrangement with Sweden will take effect from 1 July 2001.

A WHM arrangement with Sweden will mean that young citizens of Sweden and Australia aged between 18 and 30 will be eligible to apply for Working Holiday visas for a stay of up to 12 months in Australia or Sweden. Under the regulations of the scheme, any work undertaken while in Australia must be incidental to the main purpose of holidaying in Australia, and working holiday makers are permitted to work with the one employer for a maximum of three months.