Rudd defends skilled migration changes

8 Feb 2010, 7:25 pm   -   Source: Agencies
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The overhaul of the skilled migration program, which may see thousands of visa applications rejected, could damage Australia's reputation abroad, the Coalition warns - but Rudd says the old plan doesn't deal with the modern economy's needs.
 

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Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has defended the government's planned changes to Australia's skilled migration programme, after the opposition said he's more interested in deterring skilled workers from coming to Australia than illegal immigrants.

The federal government's overhaul of the skilled migration program, which may see thousands of visa applications rejected, could damage Australia's reputation abroad, the federal opposition said earlier.

But Rudd says the skill system of the Howard government doesn't deal with the needs of the Australian economy in 2010.

Overhaul announced

Immigration Minister Chris Evans on Monday announced Labor would cancel and refund the applications of 20,000 prospective migrants currently living overseas.

The list of occupations in demand will also be tightened so only highly skilled migrants will be eligible for a visa.

The news comes as UK officials said it would cut the number of visas handed out to foreign students in a bid to stop poeple breaking the rules and working illegally.

Hitting the hip pocket

Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said there would be big transition costs associated with the changes, which would hit the international education sector hard.

This is because there are many foreign students already taking courses on the in-demand list, whose study may no longer improve their chances of permanent migration.

"There'll be many students who'll be caught between a rock and a hard place," Mr Morrison told reporters in Canberra.

"It addition ... there'll be a lot of pressure on those colleges (catering to overseas students) and I suspect many will fail.
 

"That will obviously have impacts for jobs."

Under the changes, the list of jobs used to select migrants is to be streamlined and reviewed annually, while potential new Australian citizens will need to have better English-language skills.

Immigration Minister Chris Evans acknowledges there'd be animpact on the overseas education sector.

But he says a student visa to Australia is a visa to study, not a visa to stay permanently.

 

Skilled migration 'in jeopardy'

Australia's reputation as a destination for skilled migration could be jeopardised as a result, he said.

He urged the government to ensure that two-thirds of Australia's migration program came from the skilled workforce.

"It's important skilled migration remain the dominant component of our migration intake because it ... contributes to the economy, that pays the taxes, that pays for the hospitals and the roads and the services," he said.

Labor backbencher Kelvin Thomson said skilled migration needed to be scaled back because it had "three strikes" against it.

It fueled runaway population growth, put downward pressure on wages and conditions, and came at the expense of training young Australian workers, he said.

The move 'not racist'

Mr Thomson said the program had got out of control since the previous coalition government started allowing international students to apply for permanent residence onshore, instead of making them return to their home countries first.

"(Education) agents have had a field day telling overseas students all they needed to do was to pay large fees and they'd be guaranteed permanent residence here," he said.

"We need to decouple the link between education and permanent residence."

Mr Thomson said the move wouldn't be seen as racist but would in fact lead to a much needed clean-up of the international student industry.

Meanwhile, Liberal backbencher Wilson Tuckey said it wasn't fair that people who went through the the "proper processes" to migrate should have it tougher, while the "welcome mat" was rolled out for asylum seekers.

 

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unfair decision by chris evans

vendetta - from brunswick, 2 years ago

I have been staying in australia for 4 years and have been working in a kitchen since then .Been paying tax,finished my degree and am working in the same field since i came here.Now after working so hard Mr.chris evans makes a decision and asks us to leave within 28 days at the end of year when i'm about to get a residency .What makes you think my workplace don't need me.Mr.evans you can go there and ask them how much we have been working as a team and not only me there are thousands of workers

finally govt going murder thousands student' future

jackie citizen oz...... - from burwood, 2 years ago

This is politician when u need students to collect money govt invite thousands cooker n hairdresser. now they no need that.wht a policy people already applied permanent residency govt going to send them back..isn't unfair...thousands peoplt trust on australian govt and going to spoil their future....do u think now doctor,nurses,engineer will come fronm overseas NO govt already did wrong their own country people...what a govt which changes evreyday..........

TOO MANY

SAM - from ADELAIDE, 2 years ago

Are people actually saying that Australia doesn't have enough skilled people? Why are there so many people who want to work but have no obs? We should take in more doctors, engineers and nurses and fewer cookery class students. Adelaide has numerous police officers flown in from UK, surely there are enough young people in Adelaide who can be police officers, but the govt brings in UK officers. Thats nonsense.

rip of for international students

freddy - from sunshine coast, 2 years ago

the austrailan govt just wants 2 rip of money from the international by showing them the path to resindency and just back off

Skilled workers

taxpayer - from Sydney, 2 years ago

Cut all foreign students. Where are they getting the money from allegeding coming from poor countries. We want Australian doctors and nurses those who care about life. We want doctors that respect life and are in charge of our hospitals. We need doctors that understand English. People have x rays blood tests etc and put their faith in overseas staff

what a shame on Australian Government

Shaishab - from Sydney, 2 years ago

Is the govt willing to compensate for the time lost in appln' process, interest and opportunity costs with applying for PR in Australia?In fact AU is not only the preferred destination for immigrants. There would be serious repercussions in the AU Economy as many 've commented on. Yes that's right, you are talking about $15 billion industry which is at stake. Hard to believe that the Govt has granted visas to illegal immigrants disembarking from Ocean Vessels jeopardizing tax payers' money.

Excellent measures, but all because of money

Alik - from Newcastle, 2 years ago

No skilled migrant I know is working at the exact speciality they applied as during the skilled migration process. The government should have done this long ago. However please don't forget why they did this: all because of money, not because they love Australia. There are two ways (except being a "refugee") to get PR in Australia -- as a student and as a skilled migrant. Overseas students bring in more money thus they pay more to become PR. Thus they bring down skilled migrants intake.

In the pipeline

Waiting - from Melbourne, 2 years ago

I am a German "off-shore" applicant whose GSM application has been in the pipeline since April 2008 now. I suppose I was lucky it wasn't cancelled (yet). In reality I am not off-shore at all though and not threatening anyone's job either as I have been working in Australia on a 457 visa for the last 6 years already. Of course there is no on-shore GSM visa that favours people who are already working in Australia, paying taxes and are more than likely contributing to Australian companies' growth.

It's time to say bye to Labour

Max - from Sydney, 2 years ago

I believe the changes introduced in Jan 2010 was sufficient to prevent lower skills prospective migrants. The changes introduced on 08.02.2010 could be considered as a killer to our nation. It directly stops a large number of prospective migrants with excellent skills to call Australia home and look for another country. Our current government is not doing it right by letting boat people in whereas killing the applications from thousands of skilled applicants waiting for a visa since over 3 years

Face saving

jungleboy - from Singapore, 2 years ago

This could be a face-saving measure, considering a substantial drop in international student intake is already in the pipeline given the recent spate of attacks. This way the government is seen as proactive, tightening requirements when the flip side is less people want to come here anyway, particularly through the international student channel. As for skilled-migration, they are conflicted: Rudd wanted a big Australia before Christmas and now we don't. I smell an opportunistic, political play.

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