Long Term Detainees’ Cases Settled

The Federal Government is offering visas to 31 people who have been in immigration detention for more than two years.

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300 Dept of Immigration Jobs to Go

Three hundred jobs are being axed at the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) in Canberra.

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Aust Warned Over Social Costs of Seasonal Workers

Australia has been cautioned to pay heed to the social costs of New Zealand’s Pacific Regional Workers Scheme.A new report investigating the New Zealand scheme has identified financial benefits for Pacific island countries - but also highlights many social costs.

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Immigration Numbers: Prime Minister’s Position

Rudd Defends Budget
Kerry O’Brien: On immigration, the Budget reveals an extra 31,000 skilled migrants coming into Australia in the next year. 190,000 migrants altogether. That’s permanent. And another 100,000 a year on temporary work visas, nearly 300,000 to process and settle within a year. Your Immigration Minister Chris Evans has flagged “a great national debate” on immigration over the next few years. He says the system’s creaking at the moment, needs an urgent serious overhaul because it’s based on a model out of date.

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Migration and Citizenship: New Instruments

Three new legislative instruments:

1. Provides for regional certifying bodies and post codes defining regional Australia for certain visas: Migration Regulations 1994 under paragraph 5.19(4)(e), subregulation 5.19(5), paragraphs 1.20GA(1)(e) and 2.43(1)(la). Registered 20 May 2008
2. Specifies skilled occupations as migration occupations in demand made under regulation 1.03 of the Migration Regulations 1994. Took effect 17 May 2008
3. Authorises classes of persons to receive the pledge of commitment made under subsection 27(5) of the Australian Citizenship Act 2007. Took effect 7 May 2008

Interstate Migration Fails Skills Test

The federal government could be better off directing skilled migrants to areas where labour is needed rather than relying on local workers to move interstate to solve skill shortages, Treasury secretary Ken Henry said.

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Unlawful? Maybe Not: Absorbed Persons Visas

An immigration officer should consider if a person is the holder of an absorbed person visa, despite their system showing that person is unlawful.

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Open Door

Welcome to the beauty of a budget surplus and Labor’s tradition of nation-building. This synthesis is the heart of the strategy embraced by Kevin Rudd and Wayne Swan in their first budget. Consider its landmark features: an attachment to fiscal conservatism, the creation via the surplus of three new investment vehicles worth $40 billion to fund capital needs in infrastructure, education and health, and the biggest lift in immigration since Ben Chifley inaugurated the scheme.

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Visa Staff Cut Despite Migrant Demand

The Immigration Department has slashed one-in-10 overseas postings for officials who assess skilled workers’ visas - just as the skilled migrant intake is increased by 25 per cent.

From July 1, the department will cut its overseas staff from 160 to 144, despite the cap for skilled migrants being lifted by 31,000 to 133,500 places.

It is estimated that in the next financial year, temporary visas for skilled workers - the 457 visas - will exceed 100,000 for the first time.

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Skilled Migrant Intake May Climb Again

Treasurer Wayne Swan said yesterday Australia had to step up its skilled migrant intake to ensure the economy had enough labour to power ahead with government initiated infrastructure projects.

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