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Skilled migration solutions for WA business
8 June 2010
The Rudd Government’s reform of the skilled migration program will enable Western Australian businesses to employ the workers they need, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, according to Senator Chris Evans. ‘In the last financial year, Western Australia accounted for a quarter of all Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) grants and Western Australia’s share of the ENS market grew from 16 per cent in 2007–08 to 24 per cent in 2008-09’. More...
Immigration minister uses veto rarely
4 June 2010
Immigration Minister Chris Evans says he would very, very rarely use his new powers to veto skilled migration applications. The Senate legal and constitutional affairs committee is considering a government bill that would give the minister the right to terminate future bids for residency. More...
A simpler visa system
4 June 2010
The Rudd Government will simplify and streamline Australia’s complex visa system under innovative changes. The Government will: reduce the number of temporary work visas by 50 per cent by 2012 and by 2015, extend this initiative to all visa subclasses, targeting a reduction of 50 per cent in the total number of visa subclasses. Fewer temporary visa subclasses, simpler assessment criteria and a more streamlined and consistent application process will result in an overall simpler system. More...
Publications/ Conferences
Migration Amendment (Visa Capping) Bill 2010
4 June 2010
On 26 May 2010 the Migration Amendment (Visa Capping) Bill 2010 (the 'Bill') was introduced into the Parliament. The legislation seeks to fine tune existing laws to provide the Government with a tool for the targeted management of all aspects of the migration program. The Bill is not currently operative and no actual cap is being considered at present. This Bill seeks only to give the Minister the power to implement a cap in future if necessary. More...
Closure of Subclass 422 – Medical Practitioner (Temporary) Visa – Effective 1 July 2010
2 June 2010
Following the creation of flexible working arrangements for International Medical Graduates (IMGs) under the subclass 457 visa, the subclass 422 visa will no longer be available for new primary visa applicants from 1 July 2010. This removal of the Subclass 422 visa is in line with the Australian Government’s deregulation agenda. More...
A simpler visa system
16 July 2010
The Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Lindsay Tanner, said the initiative to simplify Australia's visa system would be undertaken as a Better Regulation Ministerial Partnership. The reforms will be informed by public consultation and a discussion paper seeking views on visa simplification is now available on the department of Immigration and Citizenship website. Interested parties are encouraged to provide their response by 16 July 2010. More...