Australia and New Zealand Immigration News

Australia's temporary employment-based immigration scheme, the Subclass 457 work visa, is a very useful visa category for Australian employers who wish to hire overseas workers. Recent statistics from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) show that, while the global financial crisis and changes to Australian immigration law have resulted in lower net immigration into Australia, the 457 visa program remains popular.

According to Penny Wong, Australia's Finance Minister, Australia needs an increase in skilled immigration to meet demand for skilled labor.

"We need to increase the labor force," Wong said. "We're facing a whole range of capacity constraints we need to deal with now."

Australian education groups are optimistic that the government will help fix Australia's ailing education industry.

Educators traveled to Canberra on 22 November to meet with Immigration Minister Chris Bowen, Trade Minister Craig Emerson, and the coalition government's universities spokesman, Brett Mason to lobby for changes that will support the education sector.

In July 2011, Australia will implement significant changes to its points based Australian immigration system. One important change is that people up to the age of 49 will now be able to apply for skilled immigration to Australia.

An Australian Treasury warning has been issued which states that increased immigration in Australia is 'inescapable'.

During Prime Minister Julia Gillard's election campaign, she said that Australia should not "hurtle" towards a big population. She thought that the 36 million people by 2050 as forecast by the Treasury was excessive.

Australia has announced changes to its independent skilled migration points test which will go into effect on 1 July 2011. The new immigration points system will put increased emphasis on work experience and high level educational qualifications. For a complete overview of points awarded under the new points test, please see this page.