ARCHIVED MEDIA RELEASE
PA/13/2005 18 April 2005
Australia increases skill migration for 2005-06
Australia has announced an increase in skill migration places for 2005-06. The increase is expected to provide up to 20,000 additional places to help meet Australia’s short and long-term labour force needs, according to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, Senator Amanda Vanstone.
This is the eight successive year that the skill stream migration has been increased. The increase will be within an overall migration (non-humanitarian) program, in the range of 130,000-140,000, and a skill stream of around 97,500.
"A primary aim will be to increase the number of skilled migrants entering under the employer sponsored categories, as it is employers who are best placed to identify the skilled migrants we need," Senator Vanstone said.
"There has recently been strong interest from Indians in migrating to Australia," according to the Australian High Commission spokesman, Mr John Fisher.
"Indians are attracted to Australia for its dynamic economy, stable government, secure environment and welcoming multicultural society," Mr Fisher said.
"Migration builds long-term links and can only benefit both countries," he added.
The increase will target employer sponsored migration, state/region sponsored migration, or migrants who have an occupation on an expanded and more responsive Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL).
The Australian Department for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) and Australian industry will also run joint recruitment events to better match potential skilled migrants with employers who are finding it difficult to recruit skilled workers locally.
"As we are competing globally for skilled workers, it is essential that Australian employers have a competitive edge in this area," the Minister said.
Other changes to make Australia’s skilled migration arrangements more competitive include:
- More trades and engineering related occupations will be added to the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL,) which provides priority processing and additional points for the general skilled migration points test. The MODL will be reviewed every six months.
- An extra 10 points will be allocated for State/Region sponsorship under the Skilled Independent Regional (SIR) visa to address the demands for more skilled migrants by many States and Regions.
- A pilot program will be introduced to allow overseas students to undertake traditional trade apprenticeships in regional Australia on a full fee paying basis, and on completion of these, to apply for migration under one of the regional migration visas.
- DIMIA will work with DEST, DEWR and state governments to develop a national web portal on Australia’s skills assessment and recognition processes.
- Skilled migrants who enter under concessional arrangements if they are sponsored by family in a designated area of Australia will be required to live in that area of the relevant State for a minimum of two years before obtaining permanent residence.
More details are available on the DIMIA website