Australia and New Zealand Immigration News

The New Zealand immigration minister, Nathan Guy has announced a scheme intended to encourage overseas students to study in the region of Canterbury, New Zealand. The New Zealand government will grant enhanced employment rights to a wider range of English language students who study in Canterbury. The new rules will come into force on 27th August 2012.

An Australian MP has called for an increase in the number of temporary migration permits issued to skilled migrants. Andrew Leigh, a member of the ruling Labor Party said there was a shortage of Australians with the expertise to fill job vacancies created by the country's natural resources boom.

The Australian government will legislate today to recommence the processing of asylum seekers in Nauru and Papua New Guinea. The opposition Coalition said it would support the legislation, dropping its earlier objections. Earlier today, at 9.30 a.m. Australian Eastern Standard Time, the Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, made a formal request to the president of Nauru, Sprent Dabwido, for permission to reopen the asylum seeker processing centre on the island. The centre was closed in 2007 when the Labor government of Ms Gillard's predecessor Kevin Rudd came to power.

Figures released by the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) show that large numbers of young travellers are using fraudulent methods to extend their stay in the country after their working holiday visas have expired. Australian farmers are helping them by selling them false documentation in support of their applications.