According to the latest Department of Immigration data:

• There are 3495 migration agents registered though this number changes through annual attrition
• Almost one third (1035 agents) of these held legal practising certificates and around seven per cent of registered migration agents operate in not-for-profit or non commercial organisations.
• The majority of registered migration agents have only been registered for a short period of time. Almost 49% cent of all currently registered migration agents became registered in the past 3 years.
• The percentage of currently registered migration agents who have been registered for over 10 years is around 14 per cent.

The Age (Melbourne), September 27, 2007

AUSTRALIANS cannot be confident in the way overseas-trained doctors are vetted, Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews says.

Following revelations that Indian-born doctor Mohammed Asif Ali had allegedly lied about his medical experience to get a job in Queensland, Mr Andrews has written to state medical boards to call for a review of doctor screening.

“A recent case has highlighted to the Australian Government the risk to Australians’ quality of health care through inconsistent registration processes across different jurisdictions and less than thorough employment vetting processes,” Mr Andrews writes.

“In order for Australians to have confidence in their overseas-trained doctors, they need to have full confidence that these doctors have undergone a rigorous assessment process. Given this case (of Dr Ali), I do not believe that Australians can be fully confident in the assessment system that currently exists.”Mr Andrews has asked heads of the medical boards to assure him they are undertaking “the most stringent” checks to verify the work history and qualifications of overseas-trained doctors. He has also asked them to suggest measures for improving the system.

Mr Andrews’ office is believed to have sent the letters some weeks ago, but re-sent them yesterday after being told by some state boards that they had not received them.In Victoria about 25 per cent of the medical workforce — roughly 5000 doctors — were originally trained overseas, according to the president of the state’s Medical Practitioners Board, Joanna Flynn.

But since the scandal at Bundaberg Base Hospital in which the overseas-trained Jayant Patel was linked to several deaths — and the case of Dr Ali — there have been concerns about how carefully foreign qualifications are being checked as health authorities scramble for doctors amid dire shortages.

In July last year, state and federal governments agreed to set up a national system for assessing overseas-trained doctors within six months. Such a system is yet to appear.

This month, a parliamentary inquiry into temporary skilled migration and 457 visas for foreign workers recommended that “in light of the serious concerns raised during the inquiry about skills assessment processes for (overseas-trained doctors)” that the departments of Health and Immigration work together urgently to set up a national assessment process.

A spokeswoman for Mr Andrews said the Government did not know how many doctors might have been let in with false qualifications, but “it’s obviously concerning that this discrepancy in Queensland was only discovered as a byproduct of an AFP investigation”.

New Zealand has overtaken the United Kingdom as the largest source country for permanent migrants to Australia, according to a new publication by the Department of Immigration Citizenship.’Statistics in the book Settler Arrivals 1996-97 to 2006-07 Australian States and Territories show arrivals from New Zealand jumped to 23 906 in 2006-07, up from 19 033 the previous year,’ said Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Kevin Andrews.

‘The number of UK migrants remained steady at 23 223 in 2006-07,’ Mr Andrews said.

‘Together New Zealand and the United Kingdom accounted for 33.6 per cent of all settler arrivals,’ Mr Andrews said.

The next largest source countries were:

• India with 13 496 settlers arriving in 2006-07, up from 11 286 in 2005-06
• China with 12 009 settlers arriving in 2006-07, up from 10 581 in 2006-06, and
• the Philippines with 5561 settler arrivals in 2006-07, up from 4871 in 2005-06.

‘The Howard Government believes that it is essential new migrants bring skills to contribute to the work force and a commitment to integrate into the community,’ said Mr Andrews.

‘Our migration programme is focused on skilled migration to ensure that new arrivals can join the work force and integrate quickly into Australian society,’ said Mr Andrews.
–Source: Government Release

Contentious visas gain MPs’ backing
September 12, 2007

A bipartisan parliamentary inquiry into temporary skilled migration will not recommend significant changes to the controversial 457 visa program, despite revelations of employer exploitation and mistreatment of foreign workers.

It is believed that the joint migration committee’s report could say that while providing Australians with jobs and training is the priority, temporary skilled migration remains important in a strong economy with low unemployment.

However, the unanimous report, to be released today, is expected to reject calls from the hospitality and transport industries to expand the 457 visa program to include non-skilled workers, such as truck drivers and cooks.

It is believed the report may recommend that a national skills assessment of overseas-trained doctors be urgently introduced, and a review be held into whether employers are complying with security and police checks.

This follows serious concerns raised by the cases of Mohamed Haneef and Jayant Patel. Patel was dubbed Dr Death after his negligence at Queensland’s Bundaberg Hospital allegedly led to the deaths of 17 patients.The Dr Death scandal revealed discrepancies in the way overseas-trained doctors are assessed in the different states. The Australian Medical Association has also criticised the recruitment of foreign doctors on 457 visas, on the grounds they do not require comprehensive security checks.

The inquiry may recommend a more confidential method for 457 visa holders to report breaches of their visa requirements, to prevent employers from retaliating.

This follows claims exploited foreign workers were too scared to complain about their conditions in case their bosses sent them home.

Under the 457 visa, an employer can sponsor a skilled employee to work in Australia for a period of three months to four years — provided the job cannot be filled locally — to fill gaps in the booming economy.

The number of visas has skyrocketed, with 101,608 foreign workers in Australia on 457 visas as of March 31, up almost 30 per cent on the year before.

The scheme requires employers to abide by strict conditions including a minimum salary of $41,850, based on a 38-hour week, with a 10 per cent reduction available in regional areas.

However, a recent Age investigation exposed blatant breaches of the scheme and revealed the cases of three foreign workers who had died while on 457 visas in Australia.

The 457 visa inquiry was announced in December last year, as the Government scrambled to fix a system that had proved politically embarrassing.

The Age understands immigration officials sat in on public hearings conducted by the inquiry.

In April, the Government moved to pre-empt many of the committee’s recommendations, including civil penalties for employers who failed to pay the minimum salary or used workers in unskilled jobs.

It is believed that the report may welcome the changes and could recommend an independent review of the 457 visa program in 2008-2009.

The report could also recommend a review of the salary system for 457 visa holders.

The Labor members of the committee are believed to support the report but call for 457 visa holders to earn the market rate of pay.
–The Age (Melbourne)

Citizenship test passes Senate
September 10, 2007

The Senate has approved the federal government’s new Australian citizenship tests, requiring applicants to correctly answer questions on the country’s history, geography, government and traditions.

On the first day of the last sitting period before the election is called, the upper house approved the citizenship exams with some minor government amendments. The bill now goes back to the lower house for final clearance.

Labor supported the legislation but the Australian Democrats and Greens opposed it, with Democrats senator Andrew Bartlett describing it as bad policy and a throwback to the ‘cultural cringe’.'This citizenship test is not necessary,’ Senator Bartlett said.

‘At best I think it will just be a large waste of money and a bit of light entertainment every now and then for the media to run some of the test questions … against your so-called average Australian in shopping malls.

‘But more dangerous is the potential for it to be used consciously, or even sub-consciously, as an exclusionary device.’

The government voted down a Democrat amendment to have the Australian Electoral Commission test the citizenship questions on a sample group of Australian-born citizens to determine if the quiz is suitable.

Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews last month published draft resource booklets to be used as the basis for the 20 test questions, of which applicants must answer 12 correctly to receive a pass mark.

Among the topics covered in the booklet are Australia’s floral emblem, the national gemstone, the Aboriginal flag and the emergence of the Heidelberg School of impressionist art.

The government is keen to keep the actual test questions secret, though they will inevitably emerge once the regime is in place.

Applicants for Australian citizenship will need to possess a higher level of English language ability than was required previously.

Greens senator Kerry Nettle said it was hard to see how requiring someone to know the country’s floral emblem would make them a good citizen, respect Australian values or obey the law.

‘You could be a mass murderer, you could be a person with really evil intentions in this country and still happen to know what the floral emblem was,’ she said.

‘I don’t see how knowing the first line of the national anthem or what day is Australia Day really indicates that you’re going to be a valuable citizen.’

Opposition justice spokesman Joe Ludwig the citizenship test would serve its purpose if it helped migrants learn more about Australia and build a more cohesive society.

But Labor was concerned not enough effort was being put towards improving migrants’ access to English language tuition.

Human Services Minister Chris Ellison denied the citizenship tests would prompt fewer people to apply to become Australians.

‘I don’t see any reason for there to be a reduction in the number of applications because people do not want to take the citizenship test,’ he said.

The citizenship tests were expected to take effect on October 1, Senator Ellison said, with an announcement on the final makeup of the resource booklet due within the next 10 days.

The government has recast its public statements on migration this election year, promoting an emphasis on ‘integration’ and ditching ‘multicultural affairs’ from its official language.
–The Age (Melbourne)

Two Indonesian nationals were motivated by personal gain when they smuggled 83 Sri Lankans into Australian waters, a West Australian court has been told.

Medi Ariyanto, 31, was sentenced to eight years jail and Na Holik, 22, to five years, the West Australian District Court.

Continue reading…»

More than two million working-age Australians receive welfare payments and do not work despite a national skills shortage, the federal government says.

Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Joe Hockey announced the figure on Wednesday and said the federal government was committed to getting more Australians into work.

Continue reading…»

These reforms were announced in in 2007 by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Kevin Andrews and Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop MP. ‘Students wishing to apply for a GSM visa will now be required to have a stronger understanding of the English language and undertake relevant work experience,’ Andrews said.

The points test will be adjusted to benefit applicants with advanced Australian tertiary qualifications, Australian skilled work experience and strong English language skills.

‘The changes give greater certainty that international students will have the language proficiency to gain the full benefit of their studies. This also assists in maintaining the strong reputation of our education sector as a provider of high quality education to international students,’ Bishop said.The changes also include major structural reforms, in which the 11 skilled migration visa categories will be collapsed into just four, the 15 skilled migration visa subclasses will be collapsed into nine, creating a more efficient and robust visa system.

A temporary visa will be created to enable overseas students already studying in Australia to remain in Australia while they gain skilled work experience, improve their English language or undertake a professional year. A new temporary visa will also be created for recent graduates from recognised overseas institutions with key skills in demand in Australia.

‘The changes would lead to better labour market outcomes for all General Skilled Migration applicants and help deliver the skills Australian employers need,’ said Mr Andrews.

Additional information:

English language threshold requirement for GSM visas

• Applicants with skills in professional, technical or managerial occupations will be raised from an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 5 (vocational) to 6 (competent)
• Applicants with recognised trade skills applying for General Skilled Migration will be required to meet the current threshold of IELTS 5

Onshore students – Skilled – Graduate (Temporary) Visa

• New visa category for overseas students who are unable to immediately qualify for GMS on completing their studies
• 18 month visa
• No work or study restrictions
• Main applicant must be under 45, have met the two year study requirement in the last 6 months, have a suitable skills assessment in their nominated occupation, meet the English language threshold
• Not points tested
• Can apply for a permanent or provisional GSM or an employer sponsored visa at any time

Offshore Graduate – Skilled – Recognised Graduate (Temporary) Visa

• New visa aimed at addressing ‘niche’ shortages in the labour market
• 18 months visa
• No work or study restrictions
• Main applicant must be 30 or under, have completed a degree in a specified discipline from a specified educational institution in the last 12 months and meet the English language threshold
• Not points tested
• Can apply for a permanent or provisional GSM or an employer sponsored visa at any time

–Source: Government Release