what’s news in immigration?

latest news 9 July 2008

Working holiday extension a boon for backpackers and employers

1 July 2008

Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. ‘From today, working holiday visa holders who have worked in the construction industry in regional Australia for at least 3 months will be eligible to apply for a second working holiday visa,’ Senator Evans said. Young Australians are also able to work and holiday in the 23 countries participating in the Working Holiday and Work and Holiday programs countries. more...

Proposed new laws to reform 457 visa program

30 June 2008

Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. The Minister today released a discussion paper seeking stakeholder feedback on proposed reforms to the 457 visa regime following the $19.6 million commitment in the 2008-09 Budget to improve the processing and compliance of the temporary skilled migration program. The uncapped temporary skilled migration program will exceed 100 000 places in 2007-08 but these temporary visa holders are currently not entitled to a range of government services available to residents and citizens of Australia, such as health and welfare benefits. more...

Business says 457 visa changes won't resolve labour shortage

3 July 2008

A Western Australian business lobby group says recommended changes to the 457 work visa will hinder, rather than help, the chronic labour shortage. The WA Chamber of Commerce wants the Federal Government to reconsider plans to make businesses that employ workers on the visa pay for perks such as education and air fares.

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Builders question relevance of backpackers to labour shortage

1 July 2008

Builders are questioning how effective a new initiative to extend working visas for tourists will assist alleviating the industry’s labour shortages. Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Senator Chris Evans today announced working holiday visa holders who have worked in the construction industry in regional Australia for at least 3 months will be eligible to apply for a second working holiday visa. A spokesperson for Master Builders Australia says they expect the initiative will have a "very minimal impact" on the sector, with the real shortage in skilled labour as opposed to general labourers. more...

Income protection for temporary residents

3 July 2008

Axa has become the first Australian insurer to offer income protection to temporary residents with a working visa. Axa has enhanced its risk offering to the industry and in the process becomes the only domestic insurer to provide income protection cover to temporary residents working in the country as a 457 visa holder.

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Conviction and fines for injuring foreign workers

3 July 2008

Lakeside Packaging has been convicted and fined $100,000 as a result of a prosecution over their treatment of 2 Chinese workers on Section 457 visas. The case was brought to court by WorkSafe Victoria , and is thought to be Australia’s first prosecution in relation to injuries to workers while in Australia on the 457 visas. more...

Commonwealth to raise costs for 457 visa abuse

30 June 2008

Punishments of up to 10 years in jail and $110,000 in fines will be handed down to employers found to be exploiting temporary migrant workers under the 457 visa scheme. A Government discussion paper proposes a crackdown on rogue employers and floats the possibility of providing immigration officers with special investigative powers to enter and search workplaces to ensure employers are complying with their sponsorship obligations. According to Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Chris Evans, employers will be named and shamed if found to be in breach of their obligations where non-compliances has not been remedied or for repeat offenders. more...

Qld: Fast-food outlets look overseas for workers

24 June 2008

Fast-food outlets in Queensland faced with labour shortages are turning to the controversial section 457 visas to recruit overseas workers. Both KFC and McDonald's have used the visas to combat a shortage of workers caused by the state's resources boom. more...

Company prosecuted after Chinese migrant workers hurt

Lakeside Packaging Pty Ltd, in Campbellfield has pleaded guilty to 7 workplace health and safety charges after 2 Chinese workers in Australia on section 457 visas suffered serious injuries in 2006. WorkSafe prosecuted over the company’s failure to provide and maintain a safe workplace, its failure to properly train and supervise the Chinese workers and its failure to provide instruction or interpreters in their native Mandarin. The men had little understanding of English.

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AXA extends cover for 457 visas

3 July 2008

AXA upgrades its individual life insurance suite to include cover for 457 visa holders and separately, better cover for prostate cancer. more...