Australia Migration Program as part of Australia’s future

Friday, 18 March 2011

Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen, discussed the future objectives of Australia Migration Program in an address to the Law Council of Australia at the Annual Immigration Law Conference on 11 March 2011.

The reorganization aims to attract the best and brightest to match Australia’s unique labour force needs, while boosting its productivity.

Skilled migration reforms

The reforms to the skilled migration program aspires to ensure that the Australia Migration Program is driven by the labour market demand, giving the priority to the applicant who are nominated by an employer or those who have skills in demand in Australia from a large pool of migrants.

Chris Bowen also recalled having announced the introduction of a new points test for independent skilled migrants which is due to commence on the 1st of July. This new points test offers more weight to people who are highly experienced, well trained and those of which who can add to Australias national productivity.

The change, he said, is already leading to better outcomes for the empployer-sponsored migrants and the economy as these migrants are progressively filling workforce gaps in high-value occupations.

State and Territory Migration Plans

Over the past decade the number of skilled migrants settling in regional Australia has increased for about four times. In 2000, approximately 3,000 skilled migrants settled in regional areas. Nine years, later this figure had increased to more than 12,000.

The Government acknowledges the challenges that the regional employers face in attracting and retaining workers, which is why the the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme and State Migration Plans offer precise ways for new migrants to move to regional Australia.

Given the vast geography and the broad nature of Australias economic activity across the continent, it is understood that Australias labour market is diverse. There may be an overload of some occupations in some regions but a shortage in others.

The State and Territory migration plans denotes an overall number of applicants that each state and territory can nominate, and the list of occupations in which skilled migrants are needed accordingly. Each list is dependent on objective evidence gathered by jurisdictions on their individual areas of need.

Family program

30 percent of Australias annual permanent take is comprised of the family stream. Family stream allows the reunion of Australians with their spouses, children and close relatives, and is consequently of important social value.

Survey shows that partners in the family visa stream function well across key labour market outcomes over time.

Visa simplification

One reform, according to Chris Bowen, that is of interest to people includes the elimination of unnecessary red tape.

The number of temporary working visa subclasses will be reduced by 50 per cent by 2012, and the total number of visa subclasses will be halved by 2015.

The aim is to simplify the visa application process by delivering simpler visa products, and uniformed application and assessment processes. Also, the project intends promote improvements by reducing inconsistencies in legislation which most of the time causes confusion and by reducing complexities for business as well.

Source: Chrisbowen.net