New policy to boost Australian skilled immigration

Australia, 12th May: A new Australia immigration policy will give a big boost to skilled immigration in the nation.

Revealing the changes introduced by Australia, Chris Bowen, Australian immigration minister, said these changes are part of the federal budget.

Record number of skilled immigrants to be allured into Australia—The government has decided to issue a record number of Australia skilled immigration visas in a bid to cope with shortage of skilled labor in the nation. According to sources, as many as 125,850 Australia skilled visas will be issued by the nation in the year 2011-12.

This is an increase of around 10.5 percent over the plans of the government. The total number of permanent Australian visas to be issued by Australia this year happens to be 185,000.

Additional Australian immigration under RSMS--An additional 16,000 immigrants will be allowed to come and work in Australia under the RSMS (Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme). This program is aimed to overcome shortage of skilled workers in regional Australia and to increase intake of skilled immigrants in regions struggling with crisis of workforce especially due to mining boom in Western Australia.

The increased levels of RSMS will cost around $5.9 million to the Australian government in the span of next four years.

Additional Australian humanitarian visas this year-- The government will also issue around 14,750 Australian humanitarian visas taking the total number of immigrants to be allowed into the nation to 199,750. Out of these, 4,000 Australian humanitarian visas will be issued under the asylum-seeker agreement between Malaysia and Australia signed by Julia Gillard.

Immigration minister Bowen said that there will be a total of 7000 places under the refugee program of the nation, especially for those referred to Australia by the UN High Commissioner for refugees for resettlement purposes.

He added that Australia’s refugee program will continue to stay focused on refugees from Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

Australia to fast-track 457 Australian visa program—The Australian government has also announced its intention to fast-track Australian 457 visa program in order to control looming skills shortages under the new Enterprise Migration Agreements. Employers in Australia will be provided required skilled workers to be employed at major projects giving jobs to around 1500 workers. The fast-tracking of the 457 visa program will cost the government $100 m in the next four years time.