Intake of skilled migration putting pressure on Australian families, says Melbourne MP

HIGH immigration intakes are fanning negative feelings about asylum seekers and damaging national unity, a Labor MP says.

It came as new data reveal that Australia has one of the highest immigration rates in the world.

Outspoken Melbourne MP Kelvin Thomson said the tolerance of Australians had been stretched to breaking point by the quadrupling of skilled migration over the past 15 years.

''(This) has generated competition for jobs and housing and put pressure on family living standards,'' Mr Thomson said.

''As a consequence the debate about asylum seekers is very divisive. It is doing nothing for our sense of national unity and respect for each other.''

Mr Thomson wants net annual migration slashed by 100,000 to 74,000, which he says would still mean one of the biggest per capita immigration programs in the world.

From 2005-10, Australia's net migration was 11.1 people per 1000 population, compared with only 6.6 for Canada, which is a similar high migration country.

The UK and the US each had a rate of 3.3, while New Zealand had 3.1 and South Africa 2.9.

Only Singapore, with a rate of 30.9, was higher than Australia, according to a Australian Bureau of Statistics report.

Australia's net annual migrant intake was 234,000 over the five-year period, but is expected to fall to 174,000 during 2010-15.

This will mean a migration rate of 7.7 people per 1000 population, compared with 6.6 for Singapore, 5.6 for Canada, 3.1 for the US and 7.9 for Hong Kong.

Mr Thomson said cutting skilled migration would boost public support for a bigger refugee program because Australians were instinctively generous and good-hearted.

But Committee for Melbourne CEO Andrew MacLeod said cutting skilled arrivals would put local jobs and economic growth at risk.

''Rather than going on such flights of fancy, we should be putting pressure on our politicians to invest in the infrastructure needed for a growing population,'' he said.

Mr MacLeod said a spike in migration in 2008 had been a concern, but population growth had fallen and was now in line with a 50-year trend needed for economic prosperity.

Source:http://www.heraldsun.com.au

Sri Lanka scraps visa on arrival policy

DUBAI // Tourists will not be able to take advantage of Sri Lanka's lax visa laws after next month, when a rule requiring travellers to apply and pay for visas in advance comes into effect.

Officials said the revenue raised from travel visas - previously issued at no cost to nationals of some countries - would be used to revive the economy of the war-ravaged country.

"Earlier visas were issued free on arrival," said Abdul Raheem, the Sri Lankan consul general in Dubai.

"There was a conflict in the country and we wanted to encourage tourists to come. But now the country is stable and the problems are over. We want to reinvest the revenue for tourism," he said.

The new Electronic Travel Authorisation system requires tourists and business travellers to apply online before their departure from January 1.

"Within 24 hours, they can get the acknowledgement and travel," he said.

Previously, nationals from 78 countries were granted free visas on arrival. Others were charged between Dh5 and Dh280. Under the revised rules, only citizens of Singapore and the Maldives can obtain free visas on arrival.

Travel documents for a month can cost between US$10 (Dh36) and $25, depending on the nationality and purpose of the visit.

Travellers can also obtain visas at a consulate, but will be charged an administrative fee of between Dh5 and Dh100.

Emiratis will have to pay the highest amount based on reciprocity, as Sri Lankan nationals coming to the UAE for visits are charged US$250 (Dh918).

Transit visas for two days and travellers under 12 years of age will be allowed to enter the country at no cost.

John Podaras, a British resident, said though the move was a "minor inconvenience", it could have a negative perception.

"Any kind of bureaucracy at the border is seen as a negative step. But, ultimately one has to balance these considerations," he said, adding that the change could effect tourists making a choice between Sri Lanka and other destinations.

However, a travel agent said serious travellers would not be deterred.

"A small segment may think this is an inconvenience," said Premjit Bangara, general manager of Sharaf Travel.

"But serious travellers do not mind paying," he said, adding that the online process would facilitate quicker entry into the country.

Mr Bangara said Sri Lanka was moving in the right direction with the civil war behind them.

"The economy was booming before the war. But, once political issues came up, everything went south. Most tourism boards offer sops during periods of lull to stimulate tourism," he said, adding the income from issuing visas could contribute to Sri Lanka's economy in a small way.

Source:http://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/travel/sri-lanka-scraps-visa-on-arrival-policy