The Australian Taxation Office has expanded the reach of its data-matching program to overseas students and temporary skilled migrants.
An article was published in the Australian Financial Review on 5 July 2010. The article states that the Australian Taxation Office is launching a major data matching exercise with DIAC aimed at temporary visa holders and migrants. Copied below are some parts…
“The ATO said it would collect information on 457 visa holders – employer-sponsored temporary skilled workers- and foreign students from the Immigration Department, matching it against its own data to uncover cases of refund fraud and unpaid tax bills.
“Students and temporary workers “feature heavily in detected fraudulent activity”, including crime and refund fraud, a Tax Office protocol said.”
“the Tax Office will target approximately 600,000 skilled migrants and students, as well as people on working holiday, who were granted visas in 2008-2009 financial year.”
Source:5 July 2010 | The Australian Financial Review | Michaela Whitbourn
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Student body slams new rules on immigration
THE head of a new international student body says the government's immigration changes hit student residency hopes.
The new Council of International Students Australia is also calling for the reform of work restrictions on students and increased student accommodation. It also wants NSW and Victoria to finally extend travel concessions to international students.
CISA president Robert Atcheson, a 32-year-old Texan studying law at the Australian National University, said that in cracking down on dodgy colleges exploiting the system, the government was also targeting students.
"They have come here under a legislative expectation that if they complete their studies they would be eligible to apply for permanent residency, and they are already here and have already paid their fees," Mr Atcheson told The Australian.
The government has narrowed the number of occupations eligible for permanent residency, putting more emphasis on employer sponsorship. The changes are partly aimed at stamping out the practice, facilitated by unscrupulous colleges, of students studying vocational courses like hairdressing and cookery simply to secure residency with no intention of working in the course area.
The government is offering graduates hit by the changes an 18-month visa in which to try to secure work experience and sponsorship.
But the international education sector fears that a backlash from frustrated students caught out by the changes could damage Australia's reputation overseas.
Source:http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/student-body-slams-new-rules-on-immigration/story-e6frgcjx-1225890939874
The new Council of International Students Australia is also calling for the reform of work restrictions on students and increased student accommodation. It also wants NSW and Victoria to finally extend travel concessions to international students.
CISA president Robert Atcheson, a 32-year-old Texan studying law at the Australian National University, said that in cracking down on dodgy colleges exploiting the system, the government was also targeting students.
"They have come here under a legislative expectation that if they complete their studies they would be eligible to apply for permanent residency, and they are already here and have already paid their fees," Mr Atcheson told The Australian.
The government has narrowed the number of occupations eligible for permanent residency, putting more emphasis on employer sponsorship. The changes are partly aimed at stamping out the practice, facilitated by unscrupulous colleges, of students studying vocational courses like hairdressing and cookery simply to secure residency with no intention of working in the course area.
The government is offering graduates hit by the changes an 18-month visa in which to try to secure work experience and sponsorship.
But the international education sector fears that a backlash from frustrated students caught out by the changes could damage Australia's reputation overseas.
Source:http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/student-body-slams-new-rules-on-immigration/story-e6frgcjx-1225890939874
Immigration policies expected to change as high-growth target goes
SUSTAINABLE Population Minister Tony Burke says the government will adjust immigration policies so populated regions are not stretched.
But the policies would ensure skills shortages were filled.
After Julia Gillard declared at the weekend she did not want a "Big Australia", the Business Council of Australia, the Australian Industry Group and the Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry all warned that growth was needed to support the economy and offset the ageing of the population. Demographers said if the new Prime Minister did not want to reach Treasury's forecast 36 million people, she would have to cut immigration.
Ms Gillard told the Nine Network yesterday she did not support "hurtling down the track to a 36 million or 40 million population" and would now put sustainability front and centre of government policies.
"If you talk to the people of western Sydney or western Melbourne, or the Gold Coast growth corridor in Queensland, people would look at you and say, 'Where will all these people go?' "
The Prime Minister said she wanted companies to hire unemployed young Australian people before bringing in immigrants, but indicated she would not cut necessary skilled migration. Instead, she supported bringing in the "right kind of migrants".
Mr Burke -- whose title was changed from "Population Minister" to "Sustainable Population Minister" in one of Ms Gillard's first acts as Prime Minister -- said this meant targeting migrants with the right skills. "If your skills shortage says you need more nurses and you're bringing in hairdressers, that's not the right sort of immigration," he said.
"You need to start by talking in the regions. Julia's clearly acknowledged both sides of the equation -- there are parts of Australia where if you said 'More people', they would say, 'Where on earth would you put them?', and there are parts of Australia where for the economy to function they need more people.
"We've got as clear a statement of regional difference as you could have from the Prime Minister."
Mr Burke said Ms Gillard's comments were not just rhetoric. "In the consultations so far, there has been an assumption from the community consistently that we had a target of 36 million, and today Julia's drawn a line in the sand and made completely clear there are no population targets."
Tony Abbott accused Ms Gillard of being a "champion spinner" -- telling voters what they wanted to hear on population growth without having the policies to deliver it.
The Opposition Leader said he was recently pilloried by Ms Gillard for saying growth must be sustainable, but she was adopting a "me-too" approach on controversial issues where the Coalition had made headway with the public.
Leading demographer Bob Birrell welcomed Ms Gillard's shift against a Big Australia, but said she would have to do some "heavy pruning" of immigration to avoid reaching the Treasury forecast of 36 million people.
Professor Birrell said the Treasury predictions were based on an annual increase of 180,000 people, but the rate was currently 300,000 a year. "It will require some tough decisions," he said. "There will have to be substantial cuts in migration just to get down to the levels used by Treasury."
Source:http://www.theaustralian.com.au/politics/immigration-policies-expected-to-change-as-high-growth-target-goes/story-e6frgczf-1225884954009
But the policies would ensure skills shortages were filled.
After Julia Gillard declared at the weekend she did not want a "Big Australia", the Business Council of Australia, the Australian Industry Group and the Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry all warned that growth was needed to support the economy and offset the ageing of the population. Demographers said if the new Prime Minister did not want to reach Treasury's forecast 36 million people, she would have to cut immigration.
Ms Gillard told the Nine Network yesterday she did not support "hurtling down the track to a 36 million or 40 million population" and would now put sustainability front and centre of government policies.
"If you talk to the people of western Sydney or western Melbourne, or the Gold Coast growth corridor in Queensland, people would look at you and say, 'Where will all these people go?' "
The Prime Minister said she wanted companies to hire unemployed young Australian people before bringing in immigrants, but indicated she would not cut necessary skilled migration. Instead, she supported bringing in the "right kind of migrants".
Mr Burke -- whose title was changed from "Population Minister" to "Sustainable Population Minister" in one of Ms Gillard's first acts as Prime Minister -- said this meant targeting migrants with the right skills. "If your skills shortage says you need more nurses and you're bringing in hairdressers, that's not the right sort of immigration," he said.
"You need to start by talking in the regions. Julia's clearly acknowledged both sides of the equation -- there are parts of Australia where if you said 'More people', they would say, 'Where on earth would you put them?', and there are parts of Australia where for the economy to function they need more people.
"We've got as clear a statement of regional difference as you could have from the Prime Minister."
Mr Burke said Ms Gillard's comments were not just rhetoric. "In the consultations so far, there has been an assumption from the community consistently that we had a target of 36 million, and today Julia's drawn a line in the sand and made completely clear there are no population targets."
Tony Abbott accused Ms Gillard of being a "champion spinner" -- telling voters what they wanted to hear on population growth without having the policies to deliver it.
The Opposition Leader said he was recently pilloried by Ms Gillard for saying growth must be sustainable, but she was adopting a "me-too" approach on controversial issues where the Coalition had made headway with the public.
Leading demographer Bob Birrell welcomed Ms Gillard's shift against a Big Australia, but said she would have to do some "heavy pruning" of immigration to avoid reaching the Treasury forecast of 36 million people.
Professor Birrell said the Treasury predictions were based on an annual increase of 180,000 people, but the rate was currently 300,000 a year. "It will require some tough decisions," he said. "There will have to be substantial cuts in migration just to get down to the levels used by Treasury."
Source:http://www.theaustralian.com.au/politics/immigration-policies-expected-to-change-as-high-growth-target-goes/story-e6frgczf-1225884954009
Friday, July 9, 2010
Indian students face uncertain future Down Under
Just when an estimated 15,000 Indian students in Australia were bracing themselves to have their permanent residency (PR) dream cut short by the country's new immigration rules, a new visa capping bill introduced in the country's parliament has become for them an additional cause of worry.
The Migration Amendment (visa capping) Bill 2010 will allow Immigration and Citizenship minister Chris Evans "to cap and terminate visa applications based on certain objective characteristics". Though the bill seeks only to give the minister the power to implement a cap in future if necessary, many Indian students in Australia fear that it can be used with retrospective effect.
The outraged students have petitioned the Australian government to reconsider the bill. "It will be unfair and inhumane to pass this law," said petitioner Ajay Pal Singh Sandhu of Essendon, Victoria.
Rohit Kumar, a resident of Adelaide, also protested the bill, saying, "This is against humanity for sure, especially for genuine students. Indians are helping the Australian economy by paying hefty fees and are not getting any benefit in return from the federal government." Migration lawyer Dinesh Iriyagolle Weerakkody, who drafted the petition, says the students' fears are well- founded.
"If the immigration minister decides that a particular number of accountants are required for the year 2010, all applications lodged after reaching this limit may be ceased and the application fee refunded," Weerakkody said. Applicants may only have 28 days to leave Australia once their visa is capped.
Under the new rules, introduced during the tenure of former prime minister Kevin Rudd, the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) - a fast track to PR in Australia - has been culled by more than half.
Excluded from the new SOL are popular occupation choices among applicants like hairdressing and cookery.
Vayalar Ravi, minister for overseas Indian affairs, has intervened on behalf of Indian students, asking Australia to implement the SOL "prospectively and not retrospectively", but so far, Canberra hasn't given any assurance to students who will be displaced by the new rules.
The Australian High Commission in New Delhi, however, issued a statement clarifying that no student will be sent back home this month, and that there are no plans to apply the Visa Capping Bill to the student visa programme. The high commission also reiterated that the changes in Australia's immigration policy are not retrospective. Student visa holders from February 8, 2010 will be given transition arrangements until 2012- end, the release said.
A PR is still not guaranteed, pointed out Weerakkody. "Students will have to depend for state sponsorship or employee nominations," he said.
"Only those who had applied for a temporary visa by February 8 this year will be able to apply for the PR under the old SOL till the end of 2012," explained Weerakkody, adding: " But they will have to depend for state sponsorship or employee nominations."
Source:http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/104201/World/indian-students-face-uncertain-future-down-under.html
The Migration Amendment (visa capping) Bill 2010 will allow Immigration and Citizenship minister Chris Evans "to cap and terminate visa applications based on certain objective characteristics". Though the bill seeks only to give the minister the power to implement a cap in future if necessary, many Indian students in Australia fear that it can be used with retrospective effect.
The outraged students have petitioned the Australian government to reconsider the bill. "It will be unfair and inhumane to pass this law," said petitioner Ajay Pal Singh Sandhu of Essendon, Victoria.
Rohit Kumar, a resident of Adelaide, also protested the bill, saying, "This is against humanity for sure, especially for genuine students. Indians are helping the Australian economy by paying hefty fees and are not getting any benefit in return from the federal government." Migration lawyer Dinesh Iriyagolle Weerakkody, who drafted the petition, says the students' fears are well- founded.
"If the immigration minister decides that a particular number of accountants are required for the year 2010, all applications lodged after reaching this limit may be ceased and the application fee refunded," Weerakkody said. Applicants may only have 28 days to leave Australia once their visa is capped.
Under the new rules, introduced during the tenure of former prime minister Kevin Rudd, the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) - a fast track to PR in Australia - has been culled by more than half.
Excluded from the new SOL are popular occupation choices among applicants like hairdressing and cookery.
Vayalar Ravi, minister for overseas Indian affairs, has intervened on behalf of Indian students, asking Australia to implement the SOL "prospectively and not retrospectively", but so far, Canberra hasn't given any assurance to students who will be displaced by the new rules.
The Australian High Commission in New Delhi, however, issued a statement clarifying that no student will be sent back home this month, and that there are no plans to apply the Visa Capping Bill to the student visa programme. The high commission also reiterated that the changes in Australia's immigration policy are not retrospective. Student visa holders from February 8, 2010 will be given transition arrangements until 2012- end, the release said.
A PR is still not guaranteed, pointed out Weerakkody. "Students will have to depend for state sponsorship or employee nominations," he said.
"Only those who had applied for a temporary visa by February 8 this year will be able to apply for the PR under the old SOL till the end of 2012," explained Weerakkody, adding: " But they will have to depend for state sponsorship or employee nominations."
Source:http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/104201/World/indian-students-face-uncertain-future-down-under.html
Australia's new PM Gillard suggests she would favour skilled immigration
MELBOURNE: Australia's new Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Sunday vetoed her predecessor Kevin Rudd's idea of a 'big Australia,' indicating a slowdown in immigration to the nation where Indians constitute one of the largest chunk of immigrants.
She said Australia with a population of 22 million should not "hurtle down" towards a big population but opt for skilled migration.
Gillard, the country's first woman prime minister who ousted Rudd, took a different stand on one of his chief policy issues and said she supports a population that the nation's environment, infrastructure and services can sustain.
The nation should not "hurtle down the track towards a big population," she said according to an ABC report.
"I don't support the idea of a big Australia with arbitrary targets of, say, a 40 million-strong Australia or a 36 million-strong Australia. We need to stop, take a breath and develop policies for a sustainable Australia," she said.
According to Treasury's Intergenerational Report earlier this year Australian population was projected to rise from about 22 million to 35.9 million in 2050 if the current trends in overseas migration and fertility continued, with immigration by far the biggest contributor.
Gillard said: "If you spoke to the people of Western Sydney, for example, about a big Australia... they would laugh at you and ask you a very simple question: where will these 40 million people go?"
However, Gillard said it does not mean putting a stop on immigration all together. "I don't want business to be held back because they couldn't find the right workers... That's why skilled migration is so important.
"But also I don't want areas of Australia with 25 per cent youth unemployment because there are no jobs," she said.
Melbourne was predicted to hit a figure of 7 million people, and Sydney would grow to more than 7.5 million by 2050. The report prompted the country to rethink its migration policy over whether big cities, now straining under inadequate infrastructure, could cope with the growth.
Former Prime Minister Rudd, who was an advocate of a "big Australia" had appointed Tony Burke as Population Minister to develop a strategy.
Gillard, who immigrated as a child from Wales in 1966 when Australia's population was 11.5 million, said Burke's job description would now change to "send a very clear message about this new direction". He would now be known as the Minister for Sustainable Population.
Though Gillard stressed that her belief that population growth should be limited was "not about bringing down the shutters in immigration," any move to lower current rates would involve taking in significantly fewer immigrants.
Last year, overseas migration added almost 300,000 people majorly from the developing countries like Philippines, Malaysia, India, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Rest-of-World/Australias-new-PM-Gillard-suggests-she-would-favour-skilled-immigration/articleshow/6097709.cms
She said Australia with a population of 22 million should not "hurtle down" towards a big population but opt for skilled migration.
Gillard, the country's first woman prime minister who ousted Rudd, took a different stand on one of his chief policy issues and said she supports a population that the nation's environment, infrastructure and services can sustain.
The nation should not "hurtle down the track towards a big population," she said according to an ABC report.
"I don't support the idea of a big Australia with arbitrary targets of, say, a 40 million-strong Australia or a 36 million-strong Australia. We need to stop, take a breath and develop policies for a sustainable Australia," she said.
According to Treasury's Intergenerational Report earlier this year Australian population was projected to rise from about 22 million to 35.9 million in 2050 if the current trends in overseas migration and fertility continued, with immigration by far the biggest contributor.
Gillard said: "If you spoke to the people of Western Sydney, for example, about a big Australia... they would laugh at you and ask you a very simple question: where will these 40 million people go?"
However, Gillard said it does not mean putting a stop on immigration all together. "I don't want business to be held back because they couldn't find the right workers... That's why skilled migration is so important.
"But also I don't want areas of Australia with 25 per cent youth unemployment because there are no jobs," she said.
Melbourne was predicted to hit a figure of 7 million people, and Sydney would grow to more than 7.5 million by 2050. The report prompted the country to rethink its migration policy over whether big cities, now straining under inadequate infrastructure, could cope with the growth.
Former Prime Minister Rudd, who was an advocate of a "big Australia" had appointed Tony Burke as Population Minister to develop a strategy.
Gillard, who immigrated as a child from Wales in 1966 when Australia's population was 11.5 million, said Burke's job description would now change to "send a very clear message about this new direction". He would now be known as the Minister for Sustainable Population.
Though Gillard stressed that her belief that population growth should be limited was "not about bringing down the shutters in immigration," any move to lower current rates would involve taking in significantly fewer immigrants.
Last year, overseas migration added almost 300,000 people majorly from the developing countries like Philippines, Malaysia, India, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Rest-of-World/Australias-new-PM-Gillard-suggests-she-would-favour-skilled-immigration/articleshow/6097709.cms
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Refugees welcomed as Australian citizens in Melbourne
Nearly 40 Melbourne people, most of whom arrived under Australia’s refugee and humanitarian program, will become citizens tomorrow in a Refugee Week-inspired citizenship ceremony hosted by the Western Bulldogs Football Club in Footscray.
The 39 conferees came to Australia from 14 countries including Somalia, the Sudan, Burma, India, the former Yugoslavia, Thailand, Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia.
Rick Kiembe Mwamba, 2010 Hobsons Bay Young Citizen of the Year, who arrived as a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2007, will be the guest speaker at this Footscray ceremony.
Rick, 18, has been hailed as a role model by community leaders in Melbourne’s west. The Year 12 student speaks five languages, loves to play sport and enjoys meeting new people and getting involved in his local community. At tomorrow’s ceremony, Rick will tell new citizens about his experiences in Australia and how he not only survived but thrived through challenges.
“Tomorrow’s ceremony is particularly special, as many people who have experienced past hardship as refugees celebrate their new lives as Australian citizens,” a DIAC spokesperson said.
“Australia provides comprehensive support systems for refugees and others in humanitarian need and consistently ranks among the world’s top three resettlement countries, along with the United States and Canada.
“Since the end of World War II, about 750 000 refugees have been resettled in Australia. A further 13 750 people will be welcomed through the humanitarian program in the 2010-11 program year.
“Becoming an Australian citizen is an exciting step that shows commitment and loyalty to this country and the desire to share a common future.
“Australia has been enriched by the cultures of people from more than 200 countries who have chosen to call Australia home, and I am certain our new citizens will continue this tradition.”
Tomorrow’s refugee citizenship ceremony begins at 5.30pm at the Western Bulldogs Football Club, Whitten Oval, 417 Barkly Street, Footscray.
Media Enquiries: National Communications 02 6264 2244 or 0401 335 356.
Source:http://www.newsroom.immi.gov.au/media_releases/822
The 39 conferees came to Australia from 14 countries including Somalia, the Sudan, Burma, India, the former Yugoslavia, Thailand, Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia.
Rick Kiembe Mwamba, 2010 Hobsons Bay Young Citizen of the Year, who arrived as a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2007, will be the guest speaker at this Footscray ceremony.
Rick, 18, has been hailed as a role model by community leaders in Melbourne’s west. The Year 12 student speaks five languages, loves to play sport and enjoys meeting new people and getting involved in his local community. At tomorrow’s ceremony, Rick will tell new citizens about his experiences in Australia and how he not only survived but thrived through challenges.
“Tomorrow’s ceremony is particularly special, as many people who have experienced past hardship as refugees celebrate their new lives as Australian citizens,” a DIAC spokesperson said.
“Australia provides comprehensive support systems for refugees and others in humanitarian need and consistently ranks among the world’s top three resettlement countries, along with the United States and Canada.
“Since the end of World War II, about 750 000 refugees have been resettled in Australia. A further 13 750 people will be welcomed through the humanitarian program in the 2010-11 program year.
“Becoming an Australian citizen is an exciting step that shows commitment and loyalty to this country and the desire to share a common future.
“Australia has been enriched by the cultures of people from more than 200 countries who have chosen to call Australia home, and I am certain our new citizens will continue this tradition.”
Tomorrow’s refugee citizenship ceremony begins at 5.30pm at the Western Bulldogs Football Club, Whitten Oval, 417 Barkly Street, Footscray.
Media Enquiries: National Communications 02 6264 2244 or 0401 335 356.
Source:http://www.newsroom.immi.gov.au/media_releases/822
Subclass 457 visa threshold indexed to maintain wage growth
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) today announced changes to the salary thresholds that apply to the subclass 457 visa program, maintaining the wage growth of temporary skilled workers.
The temporary skilled migration income threshold (TSMIT) will be indexed by 5 per cent for all new nominations, in line with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) report on average weekly earnings.
From today, the TSMIT will rise to $47 480, an increase that ensures that wages for subclass 457 visa holders keep pace with annual wage growth for all Australians.
“New nominations will not be granted for the subclass 457 program if the market salary rate for the position is below this threshold,” a DIAC spokesman said.
“Existing visa holders will be unaffected unless they change employer and a new nomination is lodged.”
The salary threshold at which English language testing can be waived is also being indexed by 5 per cent to $85 090.
Since major reforms to the subclass 457 program came into effect last September, employers have been required to pay workers the same terms and conditions as Australian workers undertaking equivalent work in the same workplace. This includes paying market salary rates.
Where there is an equivalent Australian worker in the workplace, the market salary rate should be determined by the industrial arrangements that apply to that worker – for example, a collective agreement, award, award conditions with above award salary rates or a common law contract.
If there is no equivalent worker onsite, the employer may reference collective agreements or awards for that position to substantiate the market rate. If there is no applicable agreement or award, other evidence such as remuneration surveys or earnings data must be provided.
“The department has made it clear that temporary skilled overseas workers should not be employed ahead of local workers as a cheaper option,” the spokesman said.
“The subclass 457 visa scheme is a demand-driven program designed to supplement, not replace, the local workforce when there are serious skills shortages.”
Media Enquiries: National Communications Branch (02) 6264 2244
Source:http://www.newsroom.immi.gov.au/media_releases/821
The temporary skilled migration income threshold (TSMIT) will be indexed by 5 per cent for all new nominations, in line with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) report on average weekly earnings.
From today, the TSMIT will rise to $47 480, an increase that ensures that wages for subclass 457 visa holders keep pace with annual wage growth for all Australians.
“New nominations will not be granted for the subclass 457 program if the market salary rate for the position is below this threshold,” a DIAC spokesman said.
“Existing visa holders will be unaffected unless they change employer and a new nomination is lodged.”
The salary threshold at which English language testing can be waived is also being indexed by 5 per cent to $85 090.
Since major reforms to the subclass 457 program came into effect last September, employers have been required to pay workers the same terms and conditions as Australian workers undertaking equivalent work in the same workplace. This includes paying market salary rates.
Where there is an equivalent Australian worker in the workplace, the market salary rate should be determined by the industrial arrangements that apply to that worker – for example, a collective agreement, award, award conditions with above award salary rates or a common law contract.
If there is no equivalent worker onsite, the employer may reference collective agreements or awards for that position to substantiate the market rate. If there is no applicable agreement or award, other evidence such as remuneration surveys or earnings data must be provided.
“The department has made it clear that temporary skilled overseas workers should not be employed ahead of local workers as a cheaper option,” the spokesman said.
“The subclass 457 visa scheme is a demand-driven program designed to supplement, not replace, the local workforce when there are serious skills shortages.”
Media Enquiries: National Communications Branch (02) 6264 2244
Source:http://www.newsroom.immi.gov.au/media_releases/821
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