ATN criticises cuts to Australian skilled migration program
May 14 2009 by Bryan Palmer
ATN urge Immigration minister
The Australian Technology Network (ATN) has spoken out against the government’s decision to curtail Australian immigration numbers on the skilled migration program.
The organisation believes that academics emigrating for jobs in Australia is essential for the country’s economic recovery. The ATN says that allowing the Australian skilled visa program to remain open will enable more skilled academics to move to Australia and that this is a much better route to economic recovery than the 14% cut to the program that was recently announced.
The ATN has warned that restricting Australian immigration during a recession is a dangerous policy because when the economy recovers Australia will find itself facing a shortfall in skilled workers.
Meanwhile the “baby boomer” academics will start to retire, which will create a chasm in the workforce that will prevent economic growth from reaching its full potential.
Vicki Thomson, executive director of the ATN, wrote in a briefing paper: "There is generally a two-year time lag from immigration policy change to outcome, so as a response to the global financial crisis, this policy will do little to protect the jobs of Australian citizens in the short to medium term."
See the latest Immigration News
