Priority Processing Arrangements for Skilled Migration Visas

These priority processing arrangements apply to visa applications already lodged with the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship, as well as to future visa applications.

The new priority processing arrangements apply to the following Australian visas:

Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)

Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS)

General Skilled Migration (GSM) visas listed below.


From 14 July 2010, processing priorities (with highest priority listed first) are:


1. Applications from people who are employer sponsored under the ENS and the RSMS.

2. Applications from people who are nominated by a state or territory government agency with a nominated occupation that is specified on that state or territory’s state migration plan.

3. Applications from people who have nominated an occupation on the new Skilled Occupation List (SOL)

Priority processing arrangements apply to current applications, including those in the final stages.


GSM visas affected

The following GSM visas are affected by priority processing:

Skilled – Independent subclass 175

Skilled – Independent subclass 176

Skilled – Regional Sponsored subclass 475

Skilled – Regional Sponsored subclass 487

Skilled – Independent Regional subclass 495

Skilled – Designated Area-sponsored (Provisional) subclass 496

Graduate – Skilled subclass 497

Skilled – Onshore Independent New Zealand Citizen subclass 861

Skilled – Onshore Australian-sponsored New Zealand Citizen subclass 862

Skilled – Onshore Designated Area-sponsored New Zealand Citizen subclass 863

Skilled – Independent Overseas Student subclass 880

Skilled – Australian-sponsored subclass 881

Skilled – Designated Area-sponsored Overseas Student subclass 882

Skilled – Independent subclass 885

Skilled – Sponsored subclass 886.

ENS, RSMS and State Migration Plans – Priority groups 1 and 2

Applications from people who are employer sponsored under the ENS or RSMS receive the highest level of priority processing.


Applications from people who are nominated by a state or territory government agency with a nominated occupation that is specified on the state or territory’s state migration plan receive the second highest level of priority processing. State migration plans will be developed by state/territory governments in consultation with the department.

They will include occupations that are in demand in each individual state and territory. State migration plans are currently being developed and are expected to come into effect during the second half of 2010.


Applicants that have been nominated by a state or territory government agency in an occupation that is subsequently specified in their nominating state or territory’s state migration plan will receive processing under priority group 2.

Occupations on the SOL in effect at 1 July 2010 – priority group 3

All applicants with a nominated occupation on the SOL (Skilled Occupations List) are included in priority group 3. This includes both independent applicants and applicants sponsored by an Australian family member or nominated by a state or territory government (but not on a state migration plan).

Priority group 3 includes all applicants with a nominated occupation of accountant, except those already included in priority groups 1 or 2.

All other applications – priority group 4

Applicants with a nominated occupation that is not on the Skilled Occupations List (SOL) in effect at 1 July 2010 and who are not employer sponsored or nominated by a state or territory government under a state migration plan, will be processed under priority group 4.

Applicants with a nominated occupation that is not on the SOL in effect at 1 July 2010 can only move into a higher priority group by lodging a new application with an employer sponsorship or a state or territory government nomination in an occupation specified under a state migration plan.


Alternatively, applicants can only nominate a different occupation that is on the SOL by lodging a new application. It is not possible to change a nominated occupation or to change to an employer sponsored or state nominated visa category, unless a new application is lodged. A new application would require the payment of a new Visa Application Charge.

Source:http://www.emigrantaustralia.com/en/priority_processing_arrangements_for_skilled_migration_visas-63.html

South Australia’s State Sponsorship Interim Occupation List

The following list includes occupations that Immigration SA will consider for Sponsorships until the State Migration Plan is implemented. The occupations listed below reflect general skills shortages in South Australia and do not relate to a specific job vacancy, nor represent a guarantee of a job in a specific occupation. State Sponsored migrants must compete with all people in the labour market as part of the normal competitive selection process.

ANZSCO / ASCO –

If your skills assessment has an ASCO code, please visit the DIAC website to check DIAC’s Endorsed ANZSCO / ASCOcorrelations – http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/_pdf/sol-schedule3.pdfSpecial requirements -sponsorship requirements. If there is no special requirement listed, you are required to meet the IELTS requirement of 6.0 in each of the four bands. If you hold a valid passport from, and are a citizen of, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, United States of America, or the Republic of Ireland,

you must provide an IELTS test result if the requirement is 7.0 or higher. Where the requirement is less than 7.0 no IELTS test result is required.

Skills Recognition -to find out how to get an assessment of your qualifications, skills or experience gained overseas. You can also find State specific licensing and registration requirements to perform your occupation in South Australia.

The Australian Skills Recognition Information site http://www.immi.gov.au/asri/a-z.htm will help youOff-list Permanent Sponsorship –

Will be available to some onshore applicants, more details available on this website.Your occupation must be on this list and you must meet all other State Sponsorship criteria. If your occupation is not on this list, it is not available for sponsorship at this time.


ANZSCO

Code Description Special requirement/s

133111 Construction Project Manager IELTS 7.0 in each band

133112 Project Builder IELTS 7.0 in each band

133211 Engineering Manager IELTS 7.0 in each band

221112 Management Accountant IELTS 7.0 in each band, 3 yrs work experience in field

221113 Taxation Accountant IELTS 7.0 in each band, 3 yrs work experience in field

231212 Ship’s Engineer

231213 Ship’s Master

232212 Surveyor

232213 Cartographer IELTS 6.5 in each band

233211 Civil Engineer

233212 Geotechnical Engineer

233213 Quantity Surveyor

233214 Structural engineer

233215 Transport engineer

233513 Production or Plant Engineer

233611 Mining Engineer (excluding Petroleum)

233612 Petroleum Engineer

233911 Aeronautical Engineer

Code Description Special requirement/s

233913 Biomedical Engineer

233915 Environmental Engineer

234711 Veterinarian

241111 Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher IELTS 7.0 in each band

241411 Secondary School Teacher

IELTS 7.0 in each band, Science,Technology , Engineering and Mathematics(STEM) only

251211 Medical Diagnostic Radiographer

251212 Medical Radiation Therapist

251213 Nuclear Medicine Technologist

251214 Sonographer

251411 Optometrist

252111 Chiropractor

252311 Dental Specialist

252312 Dentist

252511 Physiotherapist

252611 Podiatrist

252712 Speech Pathologist

253111 General Medical Practitioner

253211 Anaesthetist

253311 Specialist Physician (General Medicine)

253312 Cardiologist

253314 Medical Oncologist

253316 Gastroenterologist

253317 Intensive Care Specialist

253318 Neurologist

253321 Paediatrician

253399 Specialist Physicians nec

253411 Psychiatrist

253511 Surgeon (General)

253512 Cardiothoracic Surgeon

253513 Neurosurgeon

253514 Orthopaedic Surgeon

253515 Otorhinolaryngologist

253517 Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon

253518 Urologist

253911 Dermatologist

253912 Emergency Medicine Specialist

253913 Obstetrician and Gynaecologist

253914 Ophthalmologist

253915 Pathologist

253917 Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist

Code Description Special requirement/s

253918 Radiation Oncologist

253999 Medical Practitioners nec

254111 Midwife

254411 Nurse Practitioner

254412 Registered Nurse (Aged Care)

254413 Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health)

254414 Registered Nurse (Community Health)

254415 Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency)

254416 Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability)

254417 Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation)

254418 Registered Nurse (Medical)

254421 Registered Nurse (Medical Practice)

254422 Registered Nurse (Mental Health)

254423 Registered Nurse (Perioperative)

254424 Registered Nurse (Surgical)

254499 Registered Nurses nec

261111 ICT Business Analyst

261112 Systems Analyst

261312 Developer Programmer

261313 Software Engineer

263311 Telecommunications engineer

263312 Telecommunications network engineer

272311 Clinical Psychologist

272399 Psychologists nec

272511 Social Worker

312211 Civil Engineering Draftsperson IELTS 6.5 in each band

312212 Civil Engineering Technician IELTS 6.5 in each band

312311 Electrical Engineering Draftsperson

312312 Electrical Engineering Technician

313211 Radiocommunications Technician

313213 Telecommunications network planner

313214 Telecommunications technical officer or

technologist

321111 Automotive Electrician

321211 Motor Mechanic (General)

321212 Diesel Motor Mechanic

321213 Motorcycle Mechanic

321214 Small engine mechanic

322311 Metal Fabricator

322312 Pressure Welder

322313 Welder (First Class)

Code Description Special requirement/s

323111 Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Avionics)

323112 Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Mechanical)

323113 Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures)

323313 Locksmith

324111 Panelbeater

324311 Vehicle Painter

331111 Bricklayer IELTS 6.5 in each band

331112 Stonemason IELTS 6.5 in each band

331211 Carpenter and Joiner IELTS 6.5 in each band

331212 Carpenter IELTS 6.5 in each band

331213 Joiner IELTS 6.5 in each band

332211 Painting Trades Worker IELTS 6.5 in each band

333111 Glazier IELTS 6.5 in each band

333211 Fibrous Plasterer IELTS 6.5 in each band

333212 Solid Plasterer IELTS 6.5 in each band

333411 Wall and Floor Tiler IELTS 6.5 in each band

334111 Plumber (General) IELTS 6.5 in each band

334112 Air conditioning and Mechanical Services

Plumber IELTS 6.5 in each band

334113 Drainer IELTS 6.5 in each band

334114 Gasfitter IELTS 6.5 in each band

334115 Roof Plumber IELTS 6.5 in each band

341111 Electrician (General) IELTS 6.5 in each band

341112 Electrician (Special Class) IELTS 7.0 in each band

341113 Lift Mechanic IELTS 6.5 in each band

342111 Air conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic IELTS 6.5 in each band

342211 Electrical Linesworker IELTS 6.5 in each band

342313 Electronic Equipment Trades Worker

342314 Electronic Instrument Trades Worker (General)

342315 Electronic Instrument Trades Worker (Special Class)

411211 Dental Hygienist IELTS 6.5 in each band

411212 Dental Prosthetist

411213 Dental Technician

411214 Dental Therapist IELTS 6.5 in each band

Source:http://www.lamontmigration.com.au/news/south-australia%e2%80%99s-state-sponsorship-interim-occupation-list/print/

State Migration Plans (SMPs): Australian State Migration

What are State Migration Plans?


State Migration Plans are set to be a key part of the Australian General Skilled Migration (GSM) program, but there remains little information as to exactly what they will be and how they will work.

When the Australian immigration changes were announced on 8 February, 2010, it was said that 'state migration plans are developed by State/Territory governments and include occupations that are in demand in each individual state and territory. Each state migration plan is approved by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.'

See below for the most current responses we have received from each individual State/Territory government regarding the plans for when the State Migration Plans will be finalised and introduced:


WESTERN AUSTRALIA STATE MIGRATION PLAN

Western Australia's State Migration Plan has been submitted to the Minister and is awaiting approval.

VICTORIA STATE MIGRATION PLAN

Victoria's State Migration Plan has been submitted to the Minister and is awaiting approval. They have been quoted as saying "the new arrangements will be in place after 18 October 2010."


SOUTH AUSTRALIA STATE MIGRATION PLAN

UPDATE 28/09/2010: South Australia are now accepting new applications for sponsorship, with their website now updated with the following information:

"Immigration South Australia will be accepting new applications for sponsorships for skilled migrants who wish to live and work in South Australia.

While we await the finalisation and implementation of the State Migration Plan and the State Sponsored Migration List (SSML), the on-line application form is re-instated to offer sponsorships for a limited number of occupations that have been identified as priority skills for our State."


QUEENSLAND STATE MIGRATION PLAN

Queensland's State Migration Plan has been submitted to the Minister and is awaiting approval. They have been quoted as saying "a Queensland State-sponsored and State regional-sponsored Migration Plan has been developed, and will be put in place subject to agreement with the Australian Government.

"Until the Plan is in place, Queensland may continue to nominate suitable applicants with an occupation on the current Queensland Eligible Skills Lists as long as the occupation is also on the Australian Government's Skilled Occupation List (SOL)."


NEW SOUTH WALES STATE MIGRATION PLAN

New South Wales' State Migration Plan has been submitted to the Minister and is awaiting approval. However, a Skills in Demand List of occupations that NSW will sponsor from 1 July 2010 for the Skilled Sponsored (176) and Skilled Regional Sponsored (475) visas has been released.

NSW have advised that there may be a small number of additional occupations added to these lists later in the year from occupations not on the new Skilled Occupation List if agreement can be reached with the Commonwealth Government on the terms of a NSW State Migration Plan.

To view this Skills in Demand List of occupations, please click the link below:

New South Wales Skills in Demand List



NORTHERN TERRITORY STATE MIGRATION PLAN

The Northern Territory's State Migration Plan has been submitted to the Minister and is awaiting approval.


 TASMANIA STATE MIGRATION PLAN

Tasmania's State Migration Plan has been submitted to the Minister and is awaiting approval.


AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY (ACT) STATE MIGRATION PLAN

The ACT's State Migration Plan has been submitted to the Minister and is awaiting approval.

Source:http://www.visabureau.com/australia/state-migration-plans.aspx

KPMG Australia: Businesses Relying More On Migration to Mitigate Skill Shortages

The ongoing boom in Australia is creating low unemployment and skill shortages – in direct contrast to the gloomy situation in other developed nations.

KPMG’s Skilled Migration Survey 2010 (August and September 2010 of 268 listed and private companies) finds that the country’s acute skills shortage is making employers increase their skilled migration intake. And this trend is forecast to accelerate further in the future. Karen Waller, Head of KPMG’s Migration practice says the problem of skill shortages is top of mind since positive consumer sentiment is back and unemployment falls. Queensland and South Australia are suffering a skill shortage because they have been less inclined to engage in the Federal Government’s 457-visa scheme. And in contrast, companies in Western Australia also feel a squeeze on headcount but are using skilled migration much more aggressively.

85% have felt no impact from the GFC when it comes to skilled migration and 50% are suffering from a skills shortage, with Queensland and South Australia the hardest hit. 60 % have maintained their current levels of skilled migration over the past 12 months and only 14 % reduced their intake with Western Australia and Victoria experiencing the highest increase.


And with forecast demand for labor nearing all-time highs, employers are using the 457-visa program to recruit foreign workers in approved occupations for up to four years – 50% expect to hire additional workers under this scheme in the current financial year.

Waller indicates that the 457-visa offers flexibility to meet temporary skill shortages; and 50% of those entering under a 457-visa have subsequently been granted permanent residency. And so the 457-visas offer the advantages of a try before you buy system.

Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) indicates the number of 457 primary visa holders in Australia as at 30 June 2010 was 68,400 – Waller says applications are rising with primary visa applications in May 2010 were 20 % higher than April 2010., making it the second highest month for applications during the financial year-to-date. Ms. Waller points to improved business conditions and the fall in unemployment, but 55% felt that keeping up-to-date on changes to immigration law posed the greatest concern for their businesses, even though there is an increase in these visa applications.

“The regulations were substantially changed in September 2009 and this impacted areas such as market salary rates and training requirements. The changes meant foreign workers are receiving equivalent Australian salaries and employment conditions. In addition, the stricter training requirements mean that local Australian workers benefit from increased training requirements, “added Ms Waller.


KPMG finds only10 % are preparing for a review of their foreign recruitment programs by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) in the coming 12 months, which according to Ms. Waller indicates businesses aren’t concerned about being monitored by DIAC. However, she recommends they should ensure processes and 457-visa obligations are up to date.

The survey has two other key findings: 80% feel Australia's ageing workforce would impact their businesses within the next 5 years and 66% believe government could better leverage its skilled migration program to support population growth.


Source:http://www.big4.com/news/kpmg-australia-businesses-relying-more-on-migration-to-mitigate-skill-shortages-1880

Australian immigration program targets skills shortage

Accountants, computing professionals and nurses topped last year's list of workers that moved to Australia via the Government's Skilled Migration program.

According to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship's Report on Migration Program 2009-10 (pdf), 5,370 computing professionals moved to Australia in the past year.

They were among 107,868 of 168,623 migrants who were granted residency for their skills. Of those, more than 60 percent addressed shortages on the Government's Critical Skills List.

The list (pdf) granted priority processing to potential migrants with C++, C# or C*, data warehousing, Java, J2EE, Linux, .NET, security, Oracle, PeopleSoft, SAP, Siebel, Solaris, or Unix skills.

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said that the Government's migration program targeted the skills Australia needed for a healthy economy, highlighting "critical skills gaps" in the healthcare, engineering, financial services and IT sectors.

The Government expected skilled migration to increase by 5,750 places in the coming year, as the economic climate improved.

Source:http://www.itnews.com.au/News/236697,it-workers-top-2009-10-skilled-migrations.aspx

Striking a balance in Australia's immigration future

German chancellor Angela Merkel has spoken the unspeakable. In a brutally honest statement she has said that multiculturalism has failed in Germany. This statement comes close on the heels of the recently held elections in Sweden where the far right party, Sweden Democrats, won as many as 20 parliamentary seats, making a significant dent for the first time in mainstream Swedish politics. These developments reiterate the fact that immigration remains a hot button topic in most western democracies. But for all the rhetoric, how does Australia fare when it comes to immigration?

According to the Australian Bureau of statistics in the past year net immigration contributed 64 per cent to population growth while natural growth accounted for 36 per cent. Over the past five years there has been a substantial increase in immigration owing to government policy. It is not surprising then that in the recently held elections immigration was often discussed in conjunction with increasing population. However one wonders whether population growth itself would be an issue if it was not associated with a high rate of immigration and was just a result of natural increase.

Over recent decades Australia's per capita income has risen even as its population has increased including a huge influx of immigrants. Moreover given that Australia is ranked second on the UN's Human Development Index which assesses education, health and life expectancy as well as economic factors it is not hard to believe that by global standards Australia is doing well on almost all counts. But is there more here than meets the eye? Are the old and new members of this remarkable country really at ease with each other?

Story continues below It is perhaps as unwise to criticise immigration altogether and paint all immigrants with the same brush as it would be imprudent not to express apprehension about increased immigration out of political correctness. While a gradual influx of immigrants of all hues and cultures may be tolerated at the worst and welcomed at the best, substantial increases in immigrant population, coming in sudden spurts, may lead to social tensions. Such is human nature.

Every country has a right to decide who should enter their country. In fact extra care should be taken when deciding who can come in, to ensure that a few bad apples don't give all immigrants a bad name. And while it might be difficult, the government must make a thorough assessment of aspiring immigrants. In addition to skills, it is important to establish what they think and feel about the value system that prevails in Australia.

If there is a conflict of interest cultural or otherwise that cannot be resolved, then it may even be better for the person not to immigrate, since there is a high probability of disappointment and alienation. At a macro-level such feelings of discontent could be a recipe for social friction. Last but not the least, there is one important reason why immigrants from all over the world often want to come here. It is not just about the money (immigrants to countries like Saudi Arabia, Libya or Kenya can also make money). It is at least for some about the life choices that Australia offers. It is about fundamental human rights like dignity of life, freedom or a certain level of security.

I have personally been at the receiving end of tough immigration policies when I could not gain full time employment in the UK due to visa restrictions. But even after being denied that opportunity, I did not change my views on immigration into the developed world.

I firmly believe that every nation has a right to decide who can and should stay in their country. In some cases countries may miss out on an outstanding talent because of an error in judgement, or they may sometimes allow in people who perhaps should not have been given entry. But even though one can doubt the wisdom of a specific immigration policy, a nation cannot be denied the right to make that choice.

Yes Australia is not perfect, but by many standards it is one of the best places to live on the planet. You can eat or wear anything, practise your religion, speak your mind without fear — choices that are a luxury in many parts of the world. Moreover in my opinion the task of assimilating into Australian society rests with the immigrant who has made a choice to come here. Assimilation here does not require compromising your identity in any way but rather offers a chance to expand it, making you part of the global narrative. On the other side though, it is important that Australia lives up to the immigrant's expectations of being a fair, egalitarian and free society.

Australia is one of the most developed countries in the world but to maintain that in an increasingly globalised world, it is imperative that it manages its immigration policy well. Very low immigration will deny Australia the benefits of the best minds in the world. Too much immigration may give rise to unforseen social unrest, apart from being a huge burden on the infrastructure and the environment. Striking this balance will be a key to Australia's future.

Pallavi Jain was a correspondent, producer and news presenter with the Hindi section of the BBC World Service for many years. She currently freelances for them from Canberra. She has a Masters degree in International Relations from The University of Nottingham, UK.

Source:http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/striking-a-balance-in-australias-immigration-future-20101019-16rgd.html

Number of Indian students studying in Australia dropping

INTERNATIONAL student numbers fell by 30 per cent in the last financial year and it's possible the trend is continuing, a senior bureaucrat says.

Australia's $15 billion higher education industry has taken a serious hit following a series of much-publicised attacks on Indian students.

Austrade national education manager Quentin Stevenson-Perks says student visa applications have fallen by nearly a third.

"The best early indication would be with the grant data (for student visas) that the department for immigration deals with," he told a budget estimates hearing when quizzed about the slowdown.

"That would indicate a decline of the order of about 30 per cent for 2009/10 ... compared to 2008/09."

Mr Stevenson-Perks admitted that was a "significant reduction".

"(But) whether that continues into the future we're yet to see," he said.

The main reason for the decline was a drop in students from South Asia, "primarily India".

India was the second largest source of international students to Australia last year.

Monday's hearing in Canberra heard the decline in international student numbers wasn't solely due to factors within Australia's control.

Mr Stevenson-Perks said future numbers would be influenced by the strength of the Aussie dollar and competitors' behaviour.

For example, the United States was now a "far more aggressive" player in the market, he said.

The federal education department is crunching the numbers to determine how much the decline has cost Australia in raw dollar terms.

Melbourne University vice-chancellor Glyn Davis last week warned Indian student enrolments at Australian universities were set to plunge by at least 80 per cent in the 2011 academic year.

Prof Davis warned higher education across the country was taking a massive hit following reports of attacks against students from the sub-continent.

Source:http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/number-of-indian-students-studying-in-australia-dropping/story-e6frf7l6-1225940343346

Indian student visa applications for Canada rising

At a time when countries like Britain and Australia are seeing an unprecedented rise in student visa applications from India, Canada is not concerned about this as it has seen a 100 percent rise in applications, a diplomat here said Sunday.

'During the last few years, we have seen a 100 percent increase in the number of Indian students applying for study visa's to Canada. We do not see any threat in the unprecedented rise, rather it's an issue that how we manage all this,' Canada's consul general here, Scott Slessor, told reporters.

'Students are welcome to Canada but at the same time we have to check the authenticity of their documents,' he added.

The UK Border Agency had stopped taking applications for some time after it received a record number of applications from the Punjab region. Similarly, Australia has also tightened its rules to keep a tab on unscrupulous and non-serious students.

'India is one of the biggest sources of international students to Canada. Canadian institutes are known for their world-class infrastructure and international exposure. That is why we are seeing a surge in the number of Indian students applying for study visas every year,' said Slessor.


He also said that the Canadian government is continuously monitoring the quality of the institutes.

'The education sector is booming in Canada. But our universities and colleges are not coming up overnight. There is a regulatory authority in Canada that keeps a tab on the status of quality education. There are very strict rules that every institution has to follow,' Slessor pointed out.

Slessor inaugurated a Canadian education road show, which was organised by city-based Canam Consultants Limited. More than 500 students participated in the event.

Slessor said after China, India is probably Canada's biggest source of international students.

Gurbans Sobti, trade commissioner of the Canadian consulate here, said: 'Last year, around 5,600 Indian students had gone to Canada for higher studies and we are expecting this number to considerably increase this year. From China, there were 15 percent to 20 percent more students who go to Canada for studies.'

source:http://sify.com/finance/indian-student-visa-applications-for-canada-rising-news-education-kj0r4cfajjb.html

We were behind asylum seeker policy push: Greens

THE Greens have claimed some credit for the Gillard government's decision to take children out of detention, despite attempts to play down their role.

Greens Leader Bob Brown said today he had no doubt the Greens had helped bring about the change in policy which will see children and vulnerable families released into the community.

Senator Brown said he had led the debate on releasing children from detention during the Howard government when “children [were] behind barbed wire in the Australian desert”.

And he told ABC radio there had been a “very strong lead in the public debate by the Australian Greens. And I’ve absolutely no doubt that’s helped bring about this change of policy”.

The Australian also reported this morning that Greens Senator Hanson Young said the decision to remove children from immigration detention was “testament to the long public campaign by the Greens, key NGOs and concerned members of the community”.

Immigration Minister Mr Bowen said this morning the first time the government had thought about accepting the change in policy was yesterday when he presented it to cabinet.

“The first time that the government had considered this was yesterday. I made the submission to cabinet suggesting this change. Cabinet agreed to it,” he told ABC radio.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has also been at pains to stress that the change in policy was “not part of a deal with other parties”.

Mr Bowen also reiterated this morning that not all children would be taken out of detention, saying the Minister needed to retain “flexibility” over when to authorise the release of people from detention facilities.

And he argued that there was a “special need” to give priority to unaccompanied minors.

“Certainly by next June I want to get the very significant majority of what we call the unaccompanied minors out of detention. These are effectively the children who have come by themself. I think there is a special need to get them into a more community based facility and a substantial proportion of the families out.”

Official figures show there are 5056 people in immigration detention in Australia, including 742 children, while 106 asylum seeker boats have arrived in 2010 alone.

Mr Bowen said that the churches and charities which will provide community housing for the asylum seekers, were eager to assist the government.

“They’re up for it. They want to participate,” he said.

“And certainly it would be on the basis that there’s no extra cost on the churches and charities. We would fund the costs… We’ve found that the costs of doing this would be no greater certainly than keeping people in detention facilities. And of course, we wouldn’t have the capital expenses. So it’s a better outcome for the children and it’s a more efficient outcome for the taxpayer.”

source:http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/we-were-behind-asylum-seeker-policy-push-greens/story-fn59niix-1225940560272

Customs officers caught TB from asylum seekers

The union representing Customs officers at sea say they are becoming increasingly vulnerable to a range of diseases, with six workers last year contracting tuberculosis from asylum seekers.

The Community and Public Sector Union are in dispute with Australian Customs and Border Protection Service on several fronts amid negotiations over enterprise bargaining agreements.

As well as concerns over exposure to diseases, the union's Nadine Flood says officers on asylum seeker boat patrols are being treated unfairly because they miss out on a daily allowance of $170 compared to those working to protect the patagonian toothfish in southern waters.

And she says workers are stuck on patrols for too long, with officers spending up to 92 days at sea.

"Customs marine officers are the forgotten frontline. It's difficult, demanding and dangerous work, yet they are paid less than officers protecting the patagonian toothfish in the Southern Ocean," she said.

"Their work has changed dramatically in the last few years, but Customs management have done nothing to ensure their pay and conditions have kept up with this new role."

The union has demanded the agency provide staff with better protections against disease and the same benefits as those on other patrols.

The dispute between staff and Customs comes as Immigration Minister Chris Bowen prepares to meet East Timor president Jose Ramos-Horta later today to discuss plans to open an immigration processing centre there.

Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison says he is not surprised that some workers have become infected with tuberculosis.

"These are the things that happen when boats arrive at this level of frequency," he told NewsRadio.

Australian Customs and Border Protection Service has released a statement saying the workers tested positive to exposure to latent tuberculosis infection, which it says is very different from active tuberculosis.

It says the union's claims are misleading and that all the officers have received medical treatment.

Source:http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/10/12/3035861.htm?section=justin

Mind the gap between skills and jobs

Training programs must match future demand, write Lucy Battersby and Mathew Murphy.


A failure to match education, immigration and training programs to future labour requirements is setting Australia up for a second skills shortage and constrained economic growth.

The global financial crisis barely dented Australia's employment market, although it temporarily relieved wage pressures.

Advertisement: Story continues below The workforce kept increasing throughout 2008 and fell by just 2000 in early 2009 before the federal government's stimulus packages started flowing through the economy and international growth picked up again.

Unemployment peaked at 5.8 per cent for three months in the middle of last year and has now returned to 5.1 per cent, the same level as late 2005.

However, new infrastructure projects could face significant delays unless there is an increase in skilled workers available, according to industry insiders.

Jim Hayman, the global managing partner of mining and metals for the executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles, said the pressure to secure senior project managers has already resulted in a year-on-year increase in remuneration packages of about 25 per cent.

''Companies are willing to pay thousands more to get the right person. If it means that the project isn't delayed then it is viewed as money well spent because it could save millions of dollars down the track,'' he said.

Australia's junior iron ore players have to ''think smart'' to compete with far larger rivals BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto for skilled workers.

David Flanagan, the chief executive of Atlas Iron, said the subject was ''unsurprisingly'' on the agenda when the North West Iron Ore Alliance met this week.

''This is something we look at all the time, to be honest. Our next couple of stages of growth are going to need a couple of hundred people … Some time in the next five years the Alliance projects are going to need thousands of people,'' he said. ''We fly people in from Brisbane, we fly people in from Bali, we fly people in from Kangaroo Island.''

Wages in the Atlas workforce have increased by 5 to 10 per cent in the past year, he said.

The head of the Australian Constructors Association, Jim Barrett, said skill shortages threatened the commercial and residential building sectors. The association's biannual Construction Outlook, to be released next week, is expected to highlight increasing labour market shortages.

''There are definitely going to be skills shortages and in fact those skill shortages are probably there at the moment,'' he said.

''Often people focus on lower-level skills but in fact the high-level technical skills [and] specialist project management skills … are absolutely essential to the development of a lot of these projects that are on the drawing board.''

Government-led skills programs and some private sector initiatives were alleviating supply problems, Barrett said, but there was a gulf between current training programs and ensuring workers have the right skills to plug future gaps in the economy.

For the report, the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and its statutory authority, Skills Australia, were asked in what sectors they foresaw skills shortages over the next five years.

The department's spokesman said it regularly surveyed public job advertisements to determine which skills were in short supply but did not provide forecasts.

Skills Australia's chief executive, Robin Shreeve, said shortages would be more acute in 2015 than in 2025 because of shortfalls in skills and labour supply, particularly in health care, education, mining and engineering.

Skills Australia relies on data from government sources, private consultancies and some original research but a spokesman said it did not have the resources to do its own forecasting.

Lisa Barry, Deloitte's national partner of human capital, said Skills Australia's inadequacies are partly due to ''inadequate terms of reference''.

''They put people in charge of these groups and they aren't qualified to drive them,'' she said.

''I think there are a lot of people working hard in there but it is pointless if the strategy is not robust enough. Who owns the gap? At the moment it is hard to answer that question.''

Barry said employers needed to think creatively about using staff. If the workforce was not allowed to be more flexible, Australia probably would need to double its intake of migrants to meet demand.

In March Julia Gillard, the then deputy prime minister, launched Skills Australia's report, Australian Workforce Futures: A National Workforce Development Strategy.

Setting out the path to 2025, it recommended increasing the workforce participation rate from 65 per cent to 69 per cent and lifting enrolments in higher and vocational education by 3 per cent a year.

Skills Australia was announced by the then prime minister, Kevin Rudd, in 2007 to help businesses, trainers and workers prepare for skills shortages. Barry said a greater part of the load must be shouldered by the very companies complaining about not having enough skilled workers.

''A lot of companies in the resources industry like Rio Tinto are 50-50 between contingent and non-contingent workforce,'' she said. ''For every dollar that these companies spend on recruitment and on headhunting in the same pond and driving [salaries] up, they spend four cents on training.''

The ACTU president, Ged Kearney, concurred. A chronic underinvestment in vocational education and training by employers and governments over the past decade has brought Australia to this point.

Kearney said some industries have been exaggerating the under-supply to strengthen the call to bring in more skilled migrants.

"The problem in sectors such as mining has been that employers have become far too reliant on temporary migration and the practice of poaching employees from other sectors of the economy,'' she said.

The government's proposed national broadband network is expected to add to the problem by taking 15,000 to 20,000 full-time employees when construction reaches its peak. Many workers will be employed by contractors and will need to be trained in basic cabling skills.

But the Constructors Association did not expect the broadband network to interfere with other construction projects because it was a much slower regional project requiring different skills.

NBN Co is expected to connect up to 4000 houses daily around Australia during peak construction. The job could take at least eight years.

Source:http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/mind-the-gap-between-skills-and-jobs-20101013-16k32.html

Sri Lanka Defence Secretary get tough on asylum-seekers

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has urged the Australian government to get tough with asylum-seekers amid claims most illegal asylum-seekers return home within a year, The Australian said

The call by Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa came as terrorism expert Rohan Gunaratna said 70 per cent of Tamils granted asylum in Australia and Canada had returned to Sri Lanka for a visit.

Mr Rajapaksa said the navy and police, now with the command of the seas around the island, had stopped the flow of boats from Sri Lanka's shores. "We have not recently had a single case of people going from here in boats to seek asylum," he said.

Now, instead, people travel to third countries by air and set off from there, he told The Australian.

Mr Rajapaksa, the brother of the Sri Lankan President, Mahinda, said that after the defeat of the Tamil Tigers in May last year after a 26-year insurgency there was no reason for Tamils to seek asylum overseas. "There is no reason why anybody should leave Sri Lanka out of any fear. They have the freedom to live anywhere," said the former lieutenant colonel, who narrowly escaped a suicide bombing attempt on his life four years ago. "When people come to know that countries are sympathetic and give them asylum, it is very difficult to stop.

"The Australian government has to be very strict on anybody to whom they are considering granting asylum. If they just stopped giving asylum, it would be much easier to stop this process."

The Singapore-based Professor Gunaratna described the Defence Secretary -- a 20-year army veteran, brought back by his brother from a successful information technology career in California to mastermind the defeat of the Tamil Tigers -- as "the second-most powerful man in Sri Lanka". "It doesn't really matter to Sri Lanka whether these people leave or not. But for Australia, it does. Seventy per cent of those who have been granted refugee status in Australia or Canada then return to visit Sri Lanka within one year," he said.

Mr Rajapaksa said that some Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam cadres escaped the final collapse of their military campaign. "We know there are a few groups trying to continue the fight in a different form.

"Obviously there could be a re-grouping in other countries. So the Australian government has to be very careful in deploying its intelligence agencies on this issue."

He said Sri Lanka had been working "very closely" with Australia, "especially on human smuggling", with visits by Australian police and naval officials.
Mr Rajapaksa said that the Sri Lankan government had been unable to match the "heavy propaganda and lobbying"of the Tamil diaspora, influenced by the Tigers, in many Western countries including Australia.

The government has invited opinion leaders of that diaspora to visit Sri Lanka as it emerges from the war, and to visit centres of past conflict. Those who had gone, including some from Australia, had "returned pleased." (The Australian)

Australian Immigration Minister cautions against migration scams

New Delhi, Oct. 8 (ANI) Australia's Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen, has warned prospective migrants and visa applicants to Australia to be wary of migration scammers.

Buzz up!

"It is vital that people are aware of fraudsters' tricks before handing over money for immigration assistance which is never provided," the Australian High Commission here quoted Bowen, as saying in a statement.

He added: "This is why the Department of Immigration and Citizenship has launched a new online consumer protection resource to help people to learn about migration scams online and safeguard against scams.

He said: "The Protect Yourself from Migration Fraud information kit includes victims' stories, tips to stay safe online, information on how to identify non-genuine websites and fraudulent emails, links to consumer resources and a video testimonial."

The information kit has been developed following an increase in complaints about internet migration scams, which often appear to be official Australian Government websites.

"A common tactic of these sites is the use of language such as 'registered provider' or 'Australian visa application service'," Bowen said.

"They claim that they can 'guarantee' a visa, this is a 'once in a lifetime opportunity' or it is your 'only chance' to travel or migrate to Australia."

In the most prevalent scam, clients are invited to register online before a salesperson contacts them and asks them to provide credit card details. Charges are then debited to their card despite no migration service being provided.

Migration fraud involves illegal operators posing as migration professionals. In Australia, migration agents must be registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority.

People with information about migration scams or illegal operators should phone DIAC's Dob-In Line on 1800 009 623 or visit http://www.immi.gov.au/contacts/forms/services/services-form.htm.

The high commission said any person having information about possible immigration scams can contact the New Delhi Visa Office Integrity Section by e-mail at Compliance-NDLI@dfat.gov.au or by calling +91 11 4122 1000. (ANI)

Source:http://news.oneindia.in/2010/10/08/australianimmigration-minister-cautions-against-migrations.html

Lankans who migrate properly welcome in Australia - High Commissioner

Sri Lankans have contributed immensely to the Australian economy and development and we welcome them into our country but only if they migrate properly, said Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Kathy Klugman at the educational event, Adyapana 2010.

She told the Adyapana 2010 an educational event that education is the key to migration to Australia in an orderly and legal manner, she told the Sunday Observer, that education was the key to migration and if Sri Lankans migrate legally, they can have a better chance of living a good life in Australia.

However, there are several bogus migration agents and even with several warnings, Sri Lankans are still not educated on the consequences of being smuggled and risking their lives, she said.
"I would recommend that anyone who wants to migrate to Australia can readily obtain advice and assistance from the Australian High Commission," she said.

When there are migration requirements that the applicant does not have, it is better if they go to Australia to study which will in turn, give them a better chance of Australian migration.
The High Commissioner said that many Sri Lankans have made Australia their home. They have been well-integrated, well-placed and friendly, making them a benefit to Australian society."

source:http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2010/10/17/new24.asp

India arrests local councillor for trafficking Sri Lankan refugees

India's Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has arrested a DMK party councillor of a local commune panchayat and three others for allegedly attempting to send some Sri Lankan Tamil refugees to a foreign country.

Addressing the media, the Senior Superintendent of Police V J Chandran has said the CID police acting on a tip arrested the DMK councillor of Ariyankuppam commune panchayat Sakthivel and three others.

The refugees are suspected to be from camps in Tamil Nadu as there are no refugee camps in the area.

The Sri Lankan Tamil refugees were being carried in a boat, allegedly owned by the councilor, from Thengaithittu fishing harbor on October 04, Indian media reported.

According to preliminary investigations by the police Ramu a Sri Lankan Tamil in Chennai, contacted the DMK councillor to purchase a boat to send Tamils illegally. The councilor has offered his boat through his accomplices Logu Ayappan of Ariyankuppam, Jeeva of Vaithikuppam and Kannan of Veerampattinam in Puducherry who have loaded the boat with fuel and kept ready.

According to the police, the refugees were sought to be transported to Australia. A detailed investigation would be carried out and all the four suspects would be remanded to custody, SP Chandran has said.

Source:http://www.colombopage.com/archive_10B/Oct08_1286552901CH.php

Sri Lanka-born refugee sentenced to 5½ years in Australia for smuggling asylum seekers

SYDNEY — An Australian court sentenced a Sri Lanka-born refugee to more than five years in prison Monday for helping to smuggle nearly 200 asylum seekers to Australia in a leaky boat.

Asylum seekers from Sri Lanka and Afghanistan are taking boats to Australia in record numbers, fueling a divisive debate among political parties about how they can be deterred.

Sydney spice shop owner Pathmendra Pulendren, 36, pleaded guilty this month to acting as an agent for an Indonesia-based Sri Lankan who arranged the passage of 20 ethnic Tamil Sri Lankan men in a boat from Malaysia to Australia in June last year.

Pulendren, who came to Australia by boat in 2007 as a Tamil asylum seeker, alerted police to the voyage when he discovered that 194 Tamils were to make it.

"He told police that he believed that the vessel was overcrowded and feared for the safety of the people on board," Judge Robyn Tupman said as she sentenced Pulendren to five years and six months in prison.

People smuggling carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Pulendren must serve at least three years before he is eligible for parole.

An Australian navy patrol intercepted the asylum seekers and their wooden boat near Christmas Island, an Australian territory in the Indian Ocean, Tupman said. The boat was found leaking and unseaworthy.

Pulendren was to be paid $40,000 for his work, which included collecting money from asylum seekers' relatives in Australia, according to the judge.

Source:http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jYcFq_Yq9kV3Pe69joe2S9vE1fSw

Asylum seekers are economic migrants

Sri Lanka External Affairs Minster Prof. G.L. Peiris said that the asylum seekers, who are trying to reach Canada, are economic migrants and not fearful refugees.

In an interview with ‘the Star’ the Minister said that “There is no legitimate basis for an application for refugee status at all. The changes which have come about in this country in recent months remove any fear on the part of a community of people, groups of people, or individuals of systematic persecution. The people who are now asking for refugee status are doing so for economic reasons, not because they fear for their lives. Okay, that is part of human nature. Everybody wants to improve their lot in life. “They want to go to greener pastures. That is fine. But to ascribe that to atrocities that are alleged to be taking place in this country, or to hide behind a smokescreen of imagined delinquencies or wrongdoings is, to say the least, disingenuous and it also does harm to the country.”

The Canadian High Commission in Colombo recently conducted an internal study and examined a limited number of case files of Sri Lankan Tamils who had been granted asylum in Canada since the end of the Sri Lankan civil war in May 2009. In more than half of the cases, the refugees had later returned to Sri Lanka after receiving Canadian citizenship and passports.

“It certainly raised some eyebrows,” Canadian Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said recently in an interview with the Star in New Delhi. “It’s a limited sample size but we do have a lot of anecdotal evidence to suggest there’s a lot of people who gain protected status and return to their original country. We believe there is widespread abuse of our asylum system.” To help stem the flow, the RCMP is set to open its first office in Colombo, officials said, part of a new effort to prevent migrants from setting out for Canada. Earlier this week, 155 Tamils were arrested in Bangkok. Reports suggest Canadian officials may have had a hand in tipping off Thai officials about the group.

Peiris also pointed out that Australia has suspended its processing of refugee applications from Sri Lankans.

Source:http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/news/news/24332.html

Call to tackle foreign student drop

VICTORIAN universities have stepped up pressure on the federal government to fix Australia's student visa system as international student numbers continue to fall.

Melbourne University vice-chancellor Glyn Davis yesterday used a press conference with the Prime Minister to call for reform, warning the quality of university education was on the line. ''We are the only country in the world that's having this sharp fall, which tells you that whatever the factors are that are driving it they're about what we do in Australia,'' he said.

In Victoria the international student market is worth $4.5 billion, and is the state's single largest export. Australia-wide the sector is valued at $17 billion, and is the country's third-largest export.

Advertisement: Story continues below ''The implications of tightening up visas, and in particular the requiring of significant money in the bank in advance to guarantee that you can pay your bills, means that we are not competitive with the United Kingdom or with the United States as destinations,'' Professor Davis said.

He also said that a spate of racist attacks on Indian students in Victoria had trashed Australia's reputation ''almost overnight'' and caused the number of students coming from India to drop by up to 95 per cent.

''Clearly the perceived violence and actual violence in this city against Indian students in 2009 did us enormous damage as a nation in India,'' he said. ''There are a number of institutions in Victoria that have heavily drawn on Indian students and they are feeling the effect dramatically. The fall is predicted to be somewhere between 80 and 95 per cent [in 2011].''

But he said the biggest problem was the government's visa changes.

A 300-strong round of voluntary redundancies was announced at Monash University on Wednesday as part of a $45 million budget cut, because of an expected 10 per cent drop in international student revenue in 2011.

Professor Davis said jobs would be lost across Australia if the government did not act. ''Everyone in this city, in every other city, who runs accommodation, who runs a restaurant, who sells books, is involved. So there are families far removed from the university sector who will find themselves losing out,'' he said.

He said the federal government might need to provide additional funding to universities to make up the shortfall.

Monash University vice-chancellor Ed Byrne defended the decision to cut staff and said teaching quality would not be affected.

He backed the call for visa reform, saying the biggest international student market, China, was deterred by the large sums of money needed to gain access to a temporary visa. ''In mainland China the issues are purely financial. [They are] the historically high dollar and the major financial impost around getting a temporary student visa approved,'' he said.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard said the government's visa changes were aimed at the migration scheme, not at having a differential impact on the education sector. ''Visa changes were changes to our permanent migration arrangements, which we did because we want who we select to come in the permanent migration scheme and the size of that scheme to be about immigration,'' she said.

Source:http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/call-to-tackle-foreign-student-drop-20101014-16lso.html

Fred Hilmer warns of pain in store for top universities

BUDGET cuts at Australia's biggest university, Monash, are an "early warning'' of the pain that may be in store for elite institutions across the country.

University of NSW chief Fred Hilmer said the loss of foreign students could force budget cuts on other universities in the elite Group of Eight unless the government made it clear to potential students overseas they were welcome.

"If (nothing is done) and the decline starts to pick up pace, then you will get budget cuts because (overseas student income is) a big part of all our budget streams," he said.

Monash vice-chancellor Ed Byrne said the university had to find $45 million in savings because of bigger-than-expected declines in overseas student numbers.

"The indications that we're getting from (our major markets in) Southeast Asia and China is that this is not a Monash issue, this is an Australian issue," he said.
The multi-billion-dollar education export industry has been hit by tougher rules for student visas, the high Australian dollar, bad publicity from attacks on Indian students, doubts about quality and aggressive recruitment by the US and Britain.

The University of Melbourne's vice-chancellor, Glyn Davis, said many institutions faced "significant falls" in overseas enrolments beginning next year and Indian student numbers could plummet by 90 per cent.

"The entire Australian higher education system depends on revenue from international students, so the people who will lose out from this are the Australian students whose study is strongly supported by income from international students," he said.

Domestic students might end up paying higher fees, he said.

Media coverage has focused on the collapse of colleges as new skilled migration rules make it more difficult for foreign students to parlay low-quality diplomas in cooking and hospitality into permanent-residency visas.

But the Howard-era system that linked education and migration was also a revenue-earner for universities, who were expected by government to expand without a corresponding increase in their base funding rate for domestic students.

"The universities that have become more reliant on international student income are more exposed now," said Jeannie Rea, president of the National Tertiary Education Union. "The chickens are coming home to roost."

Professor Byrne said Labor's reform of the trade in low-value qualifications and permanent-residency visas was necessary.

But the tougher rules and checks for visas were undiscriminating and were discouraging bona-fide applicants who wanted to study, not migrate.

"There's been an unintended overshoot and the quality university providers are starting to be caught up in it," he said.

A middle-class family in China, for example, had to lodge up to $130,000 in a bank account for six months to show the ability to cover three years in course fees and living expenses, he said.

Professor Hilmer said a student from a first-rate Malaysian university with government sponsorship to do a PhD would be subjected to the same intensive background checks as someone with poor English coming for a low-level qualification.

Source:http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/pain-in-store-for-top-universities/story-e6frgcjx-1225938920860

Mind the gap between skills and jobs

Training programs must match future demand, write Lucy Battersby and Mathew Murphy.


A failure to match education, immigration and training programs to future labour requirements is setting Australia up for a second skills shortage and constrained economic growth.

The global financial crisis barely dented Australia's employment market, although it temporarily relieved wage pressures.

Advertisement: Story continues below The workforce kept increasing throughout 2008 and fell by just 2000 in early 2009 before the federal government's stimulus packages started flowing through the economy and international growth picked up again.

Unemployment peaked at 5.8 per cent for three months in the middle of last year and has now returned to 5.1 per cent, the same level as late 2005.

However, new infrastructure projects could face significant delays unless there is an increase in skilled workers available, according to industry insiders.

Jim Hayman, the global managing partner of mining and metals for the executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles, said the pressure to secure senior project managers has already resulted in a year-on-year increase in remuneration packages of about 25 per cent.

''Companies are willing to pay thousands more to get the right person. If it means that the project isn't delayed then it is viewed as money well spent because it could save millions of dollars down the track,'' he said.

Australia's junior iron ore players have to ''think smart'' to compete with far larger rivals BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto for skilled workers.

David Flanagan, the chief executive of Atlas Iron, said the subject was ''unsurprisingly'' on the agenda when the North West Iron Ore Alliance met this week.

''This is something we look at all the time, to be honest. Our next couple of stages of growth are going to need a couple of hundred people … Some time in the next five years the Alliance projects are going to need thousands of people,'' he said. ''We fly people in from Brisbane, we fly people in from Bali, we fly people in from Kangaroo Island.''

Wages in the Atlas workforce have increased by 5 to 10 per cent in the past year, he said.

The head of the Australian Constructors Association, Jim Barrett, said skill shortages threatened the commercial and residential building sectors. The association's biannual Construction Outlook, to be released next week, is expected to highlight increasing labour market shortages.

''There are definitely going to be skills shortages and in fact those skill shortages are probably there at the moment,'' he said.

''Often people focus on lower-level skills but in fact the high-level technical skills [and] specialist project management skills … are absolutely essential to the development of a lot of these projects that are on the drawing board.''

Government-led skills programs and some private sector initiatives were alleviating supply problems, Barrett said, but there was a gulf between current training programs and ensuring workers have the right skills to plug future gaps in the economy.

For the report, the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and its statutory authority, Skills Australia, were asked in what sectors they foresaw skills shortages over the next five years.

The department's spokesman said it regularly surveyed public job advertisements to determine which skills were in short supply but did not provide forecasts.

Skills Australia's chief executive, Robin Shreeve, said shortages would be more acute in 2015 than in 2025 because of shortfalls in skills and labour supply, particularly in health care, education, mining and engineering.

Skills Australia relies on data from government sources, private consultancies and some original research but a spokesman said it did not have the resources to do its own forecasting.

Lisa Barry, Deloitte's national partner of human capital, said Skills Australia's inadequacies are partly due to ''inadequate terms of reference''.

''They put people in charge of these groups and they aren't qualified to drive them,'' she said.

''I think there are a lot of people working hard in there but it is pointless if the strategy is not robust enough. Who owns the gap? At the moment it is hard to answer that question.''

Barry said employers needed to think creatively about using staff. If the workforce was not allowed to be more flexible, Australia probably would need to double its intake of migrants to meet demand.

In March Julia Gillard, the then deputy prime minister, launched Skills Australia's report, Australian Workforce Futures: A National Workforce Development Strategy.

Setting out the path to 2025, it recommended increasing the workforce participation rate from 65 per cent to 69 per cent and lifting enrolments in higher and vocational education by 3 per cent a year.

Skills Australia was announced by the then prime minister, Kevin Rudd, in 2007 to help businesses, trainers and workers prepare for skills shortages. Barry said a greater part of the load must be shouldered by the very companies complaining about not having enough skilled workers.

''A lot of companies in the resources industry like Rio Tinto are 50-50 between contingent and non-contingent workforce,'' she said. ''For every dollar that these companies spend on recruitment and on headhunting in the same pond and driving [salaries] up, they spend four cents on training.''

The ACTU president, Ged Kearney, concurred. A chronic underinvestment in vocational education and training by employers and governments over the past decade has brought Australia to this point.

Kearney said some industries have been exaggerating the under-supply to strengthen the call to bring in more skilled migrants.

"The problem in sectors such as mining has been that employers have become far too reliant on temporary migration and the practice of poaching employees from other sectors of the economy,'' she said.

The government's proposed national broadband network is expected to add to the problem by taking 15,000 to 20,000 full-time employees when construction reaches its peak. Many workers will be employed by contractors and will need to be trained in basic cabling skills.

But the Constructors Association did not expect the broadband network to interfere with other construction projects because it was a much slower regional project requiring different skills.

NBN Co is expected to connect up to 4000 houses daily around Australia during peak construction. The job could take at least eight years.

Source:http://www.smh.com.au/business/mind-the-gap-between-skills-and-jobs-20101013-16k32.html

Foreign students in retreat

MONASH University is poised to slash about 300 staff and shave $45 million from next year's budget as a nationwide slump in international student enrolments begins to bite.

In another ominous sign for the nation's multibillion-dollar education industry, Monash has predicted a fall of 10 per cent or more in its foreign student enrolments next year.

The prediction came after a report by Curtin University academics warned that, in a worst-case scenario, foreign student enrolments across the sector could plunge from about 214,000 this year to 148,000 in 2015.

Advertisement: Story continues below This would lead to about 36,000 fewer jobs and a $7 billion collapse in revenue, it said.

Monash vice-chancellor Ed Byrne, in an email to staff yesterday, said there was a ''significant softening of demand in key international markets which is likely to affect the entire Australian higher education sector''.

He said numbers at Monash were predicted to drop by 10 per cent ''at best''.

The National Tertiary Education Union said it had been advised that Monash - which relies on international student revenue for about 20 per cent of its budget - was looking for 300-plus redundancies.

But Professor Byrne said the university had not planned a fixed number of redundancies.

''We need to save approximately $45 million because of the downturn in the international student market and we're looking at a whole range of measures to achieve that,'' he told The Age.

He said the attractiveness of Australia as a study destination was being hit by a combination of the high dollar, strong competition from the United States, Britain and Asia, and recent changes to student visa rules.

His comments came as fresh evidence emerged yesterday that tighter visa rules were proving a turn-off, with a survey of foreign students finding many questioning whether Australia was still a good place to study.

Professor Byrne played down the number of staff who might be affected by cuts at Monash. Savings would be achieved ''through very careful, tight control of filling vacancies and of making new appointments'', and a review of extensions to fixed-term contracts.

But Stan Rosenthal, of the Monash branch of the National Tertiary Education Union, said university representatives had told the union the number of voluntary redundancies wanted was ''300 in the first instance''.

The union was concerned that this would mean staff being forced out when voluntary targets were not met, he said.

Mr Rosenthal said the cuts would affect Monash's performance - an assertion rejected by Professor Byrne. ''We won't make any cuts that compromise in any way the quality of the education we offer,'' he said.

A spokesman for Melbourne University said its student projections for next year were on target. ''The university's mix of international students is different from those of its competitors … we anticipate meeting our projected load,'' he said.

La Trobe expects a 7 per cent drop in international students in 2011, but says it has no plans to reduce staff numbers.

Meanwhile, a survey of students found 40 per cent of Indians and more than a third of the Chinese questioned whether Australia was the place to study after new visa rules made it harder for some to get residency.

The research was commissioned by student recruitment firm IDP Education. Chief executive Anthony Pollock said policymakers needed to be mindful of the damage the changes could do to Australia's reputation.

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen's spokeswoman defended the reforms, saying they had cut incentives to seek residence ''through low quality education courses, a practice that damaged the integrity of both the migration program and the education industry''.

http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/foreign-students-in-retreat-20101013-16k03.html

Migration levels in sharp drop

AUSTRALIA'S population growth has fallen to its slowest rate since 2007, after a sharp decline in migration levels continued into the first quarter of this year.

According to the Bureau of Statistics, the nation was home to 22,272,000 people at the end of March, but the annual growth rate had slowed considerably to 1.8 per cent, from the 2.2 per cent record high of the previous year.

Although the election debate often centred on immigration, the figures, published yesterday, show that a key reason for the slowdown was a cooling in net migration, which was 37 per cent lower than a year earlier.
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Some 241,400 people migrated to Australia over the year to March, but this was a far cry from the record of 320,300 in the previous year.

On the other hand, a domestic baby-boom has been gathering pace, with a record 303,500 babies born in the year to March, 3.1 per cent more than last year.

With the number of deaths falling, this meant the rate of population natural increase - births minus deaths - was 7 per cent higher than a year earlier.

Overall, the annual growth in population remains well above its long-term average, prompting concerns about overstretched infrastructure.

An economist at CommSec, Savanth Sebastian, said such ''phenomenal'' growth was near the fastest in the developed world.

''More people in Australia means greater demands for houses, roads, schools, hospitals and a raft of retail goods, and as such is providing much-needed stimulus in trying times for the global economy,'' he said.

However, the growth has not been evenly spread around the country. The booming resources states, Western Australia and Queensland, led the charge with respective growth rates of 2.3 and 2.2 per cent. NSW was a relative laggard, expanding by 1.6 per cent, the third slowest after Tasmania and South Australia.

Source:http://www.smh.com.au/national/migration-levels-in-sharp-drop-20100929-15xff.html

Online help for immigrants

AAP

Immigrants planning a move to Australia have been warned of scams that leave them broke and without a visa.

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen has launched a new online tool to help keep potential immigrants on the right path.

"It is vital that people are aware of fraudsters' tricks before handing over money for immigration assistance which is never provided," he said in a statement on Wednesday.
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The Protect Yourself from Migration Fraud information kit includes victims' stories, tips for staying safe online, help with identifying non-genuine websites and fake emails and links to other resources.

Mr Bowen said the most widespread scam involved online registration and the provision of a credit card number.

The new kit can be found at http://www.immi.gov.au/migration-fraud/.

Source:http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/online-help-for-immigrants-20101006-166tc.html

Australian Job Boom Sends Immigration ‘Wake-Up Call’

Australia’s surging job market, capping its strongest quarter since 2006, signals the government may need to retreat from a campaign pledge to slow population growth as the central bank tries to control inflation.

The number of people employed rose 49,500 in September from a month earlier, almost 2 ½ times the median estimate in a Bloomberg News survey and the most since January, the statistics bureau said yesterday in Sydney. Full-time employment jumped 112,500 in the past two months, the biggest back-to-back increase since 1988.

“Clearly the latest jobs data sends a wake-up call to the government,” said Craig James, a senior economist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia in Sydney. “If we want to restrain wage pressures and keep interest rates low then labor supply needs to increase and that means more migrants.”

Prime Minister Julia Gillard campaigned before the Aug. 21 election for reduced population gains and dropped her predecessor’s endorsement of a “Big Australia” policy that envisioned a surge of more than 50 percent in citizens in the coming four decades. Since her win, job gains that may presage a jump in wages threaten to force the central bank to raise interest rates further.

Net immigration dropped 25 percent to 241,400 in the year ended March 31 from 320,400 recorded for the year earlier, a statistics bureau report showed last month.

Not ‘Desirable’

In the past year, immigration has fallen at the fastest rate on record, which is “certainly not a desirable outcome,” James said.

Under the baseline scenario of a Treasury report in February, the population is forecast to expand 1.2 percent a year to 35.9 million by 2050. Paring that rate by one-third would cut the average annual economic growth rate to 2.3 percent from 2.7 percent, according to the Treasury. Net migration is the “key” variable influencing the outcomes, the study said.

The report yesterday showed the nation’s jobless rate held at 5.1 percent last month, while the labor participation rate, which measures the percent of the population over 15 years old that has a job or is looking for one, was 65.6 percent, compared with 65.4 percent in August.

Wage Pressure

“We haven’t quite got the unemployment rate down to a point where it triggers wage pressure and concerns about inflation,” said Stephen Roberts, a senior economist at Nomura Australia Ltd. in Sydney. “But it’s only a matter of time before we get there.”

Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Glenn Stevens kept the benchmark rate unchanged at 4.5 percent this week, while saying that higher borrowing costs will likely be needed “at some point.”

Traders in futures contracts are betting on a 60 percent chance the RBA will raise its key rate by a quarter percentage point next month, compared with the U.S. Federal Reserve’s policy of holding its rate near zero. That divergence helped fuel the Australian currency to a record against the U.S. dollar late yesterday.

The currency was at 98.15 U.S. cents at 10:51 a.m. in Sydney from 98.25 in New York yesterday, when it touched 99.18, the strongest since exchange controls were ended in 1983.

RBA Outlook

The RBA forecasts economic growth will accelerate as demand from China spurs investment spending by companies such as Chevron Corp., which is building the A$43 billion ($42 billion) Gorgon liquefied natural gas project in Western Australia.

That state’s jobless rate climbed for a third straight month, to 4.6 percent in September, yesterday’s report showed.

“This suggests that the ramp-up of Gorgon LNG and other major mining projects is yet to really impact,” said Joshua Williamson, a senior economist at Citigroup Inc. in Sydney. “But as the ramp-up builds momentum over the next 12 months this will drive the unemployment rate sharply lower in W.A., putting pressure on labor costs and the costs of materials.”

The region will need an additional 500,000 workers over the next 10 years as BHP Billiton Ltd., the world’s biggest mining company, and Xstrata Plc, the top thermal coal exporter, develop projects, according to the state’s chamber of commerce and industry in Perth.

Source:http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-10-07/australian-job-boom-sends-immigration-wake-up-call-.html

‘Full Capacity’

“The economy has been growing continuously for almost 20 years” and “is therefore approaching full capacity,” RBA Deputy Governor Ric Battellino said in a speech today in Brisbane. “The resources boom that began about 2005, and which abated for a time during the global financial crisis, is reemerging, adding to the pressure on capacity.”

Gillard, campaigning to win Labor a second straight term in office in the Aug. 21 vote, in a July 20 speech warned against “hurtling down the track towards a big population” and said the current growth model is “irresponsible.” By contrast, former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said “I believe in a big Australia” in an October 2009 speech.