Australia confirms cuts to skilled migration program
May 13 2009 by Ranjan Chakraborty
Immigration minister, Chris Evans
Australian immigration has confirmed it will restrict the number of people emigrating to Australia on its skilled migration program.
Immigration Minister Chris Evans made the announcement yesterday stating the program would focus on the skills needed most by the Australian workforce to lift the country out of recession.
A further reduction to the independent skilled migration program will be implemented, reducing the projected total to 108,100 Australian visas. The employer-sponsored and government-sponsored visa programs will remain uncapped, and the Critical Skills List (CSL) will remain as a guideline for prioritising individual applications for Australian working visas.
Some aspects of Australian immigration are to be opened up, however, particularly with regards to the family stream. An additional 2,500 places have been added to the Spouse and Fiancee Visa progam. The Contributory Parent Visa program will allocate a further 1,000 places and the Child Visa program will receive 300 extra spots.
A statement released by Chris Evans said: "The Government has begun the task of constructing a long-term planning framework for migration as a key component of the current reform agenda. We are recognising the importance of family through this boost which will benefit Australians who seek to have their parents, partners or children join them to live here permanently.”
See the latest Immigration News
