Australia and New Zealand Immigration News

Amanda Vanstone, Australia's Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, had some nice things to say about the new movie Happy Feet, an animated film about a tap-dancing penguin.

In early December, the Australian government announced that it will extend to two full years the validity of multiple-entry visas for six countries from the oil-rich Gulf region in the Middle East.

Most nationals from Oman, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are able to enter Australia as often as they wish during a two-year validity period with just one visa, effective immediately.

Amanda Vanstone, Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, announced on 17 December that Australia will remove the application charge for electronic visas issued through its Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) system for all current European Union citizens. This will mostly affect new member states from the EU-25 expansion, as most EU citizens could already obtain the visa without a state fee.

Australia's premium skilled foreign-worker visa scheme (commonly referred to as the 457 visa) has caused some controversy this year, and the federal government is now launching a formal inquiry into it. The 457 visa scheme is a temporary work visa that can allow a forei

Prime Minister John Howard is feeling pressured to explain the new Australian citizenship exams proposed by his government. Of current concern is how a potential citizen's "mateship" will be tested.

A western Queensland meat exporter says the Australian industry is being "hamstrung" by an inability to employ skilled migrants in the sector.

Western Exporters at Charleville sells goat meat to more than 30 nations, but says it is still unable to hire migrants to work at its facility.

Managing director Neil Duncan says beef abattoirs are also feeling the pinch, and the Department of Immigration is not helping.