Statistics show Australia doesn’t need these migrants

AUSTRALIA’S immigration program has been slammed by an expert, who says it is not really aimed at addressing skills shortages. Population expert Bob Birrell, a former Monash University professor and now head of the Australian Population Research Institute, has released new analysis on the skilled migration program that confirms many can’t find jobs. Mr Birrell…

How migration affects housing affordability

So much of Australia’s history and success is built on immigration. Migrants have benefited incumbent Australians by raising incomes, increasing innovation, contributing to government budgets, smoothing over population ageing and diversifying our social fabric. But it is also true that immigration is affecting house prices and rents. Australian governments are squandering the gains from migration with poor housing and…

Time for Turnbull to play the migration card

There are only three ways Australia can pay its public debt. Either both sides of politics agree there will be no new net spending until such time as the national debt has been dealt with, or deny the vote to all those who pay no taxes. Neither of these will come to pass; they are…

Immigration Experts Question Tale of Australian Man’s U.S. Border Detention

She told a tale of bureaucratic injustice, about an innocent boyfriend locked up at the United States border with Canada on the merest of technicalities, and her online plea for donations to help with his legal fees took off. But the crowdfunding site GoFundMe froze her ability to access those donations on Wednesday after questions…

What’s behind Australia’s new immigration rules?

The announcement that a new maternity hospital in Dublin may be managed by a religious order is generating much disquiet in Ireland; but here in secular Australia, a more secular controversy about this country’s proposed immigration reforms is raging. Last week, prime minister Malcolm Turnbull announced a tightening of the criteria for migrants seeking to…

Heavy tourist rush pushes Australia visa processing time to one month

Unlike visas of most countries, bagging an Australian stamp on the passport has always involved a long wait. Over the past few weeks, visa-processing time for this destination Down Under has only increased; it now takes a month. On March 31, the Australian High Commission sent a letter to travel agents saying that the visa…

Thai student drowned while rock fishing in Australia

A 23-year-old Thai student drowned yesterday while rock fishing after being swept into the water by a large wave at the popular Blue Fish Point of Watsons Bay in New South Wales, the Daily Telegraph online reported. The article quoted police in identifying the victim as Aphirat Nepang, who was in Australia on a student…

Australian 457 visa changes bringing in more restrictions

The Australian government made up of the Liberal-National coalition has announced that it will cut the amount of time foreign workers on 457 visas can remain in the country once their employment term comes to an end. This makes it more difficult for overseas workers on 457 visas to find another job in Australia.  The…

Donald Trump’s immigration ban: Australian refugee and migrant communities react angrily

The criminal and refugee lawyer based in Sydney’s west was a former child soldier in Sudan and came to Australia as a refugee in 1998. Mr Adut is a dual Australia-South Sudan citizen who has not been affected by the ban, which is directed at the Muslim-dominant Republic of Sudan — but he has nevertheless…

Australia considering a tougher citizenship test, confirms Immigration Minister

Instead of answering the basic questions about Australia’s political structure, parliament, election and perfunctory duties of a citizen, Australian citizenship aspirants may now have to deal with a more specific test that reportedly aims to examine whether they have integrated with the Australian way of life and the social values. Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said revamping…

Australia introduces ‘fast track service’ for Indian visa applicants

The Australian High Commission in India has announced that Indian visa applicants can now avail Priority Consideration Service (Fast Track) in India for additional fees. From 5 December 2016, Indian applicants applying for a Subclass 600 Visitor visa, both the Tourist and Business Streams, at selected Australian Visa Application Centres (AVACs) in India will be able…

Proportion of Indian IT workers on 457 visas on rock bottom pay triples

The proportion of IT professionals from India granted 457 visas and paid base salaries of $53,900 or less, much lower than experienced Australian IT professionals, has tripled under the Coalition government, a study has found. The Australian Population Research Institute has found that IT professionals are the largest single occupation represented in the 457 program…