ANNOUNCEMENT 08 Feb 2009
In February 2009, the government of Australia announced a change for the labour market access of foreign workers.NUMBER OF INTERVENTIONS
1
SOURCE
1) The speech by Senator Evans explaining the changes to the skilled migration program delivered at the Australian National University, 8 February 2010 (http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/)
2) Press release, 8 February 2010 (http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/)
3)Turner Coulson Immigration Lawyers: http://www.tcilawyers.com.au/TurnerCoulsonImmigrationLawyers255/Page/8398/GOVERNMENTCUTSMIGRATION.aspx
On 8 February 2010, Chris Evans, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, announced reforms of the permanent skilled migration program. The changes are supposed to ensure that the migration program is more responsive to the needs of industry and employers and better addresses Australia's future skill needs. It will deliver a demand rather than a supply driven program that meets skill shortages in industries such as health care, engineering and mining. The major reforms are:
Chris Evans also said that "there are plenty of occupations where there is an adequate supply of young Australians coming through our schools, TAFEs 'Training and Further Education' and universities to take up new job opportunities. They must be given priority to fill these vacancies."
The government has also stated that it is now only processing general skills migration visa applications, and granting visas to permanent visa applicants that are State/Territory sponsored, nominated/sponsored by an employer or who have nominated occupations on the new critical skills list.
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