Australia and New Zealand Immigration News

New immigration rules that come into force on 1 Nov. will let Australian employers recruit apprentices from overseas. Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone says the changes will benefit employers who cannot find apprentice builders, electricians and plumbers in Australia.

Several new categories of visas will be available, including one which will allow foreign students to undertake vocational study while completing a trade apprenticeship in a rural area.

Australia's Acting Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, John Cobb, today announced that transit without visa (TWOV) privileges will be extended to countries that have recently joined the European Union.

Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia will be included, while Malta already has access to Australia's transit without visa arrangements.

The changes, which also apply to Palau, come into effect on 1 November 2005.

New Zealand is willing to consider allowing Pacific workers seasonal visas to New Zealand, while Australia has ruled the idea out. New Zealand's Prime Minister Helen Clark in visits to the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea before the Pacific Forum, which opened 26 Oct. has repeatedly said the idea is one New Zealand is interested in. Australian Prime Minister John Howard, who arrived in PNG this afternoon, is not of the same mind.

A populist politician known for his anti-immigration statements has become New Zealand's new Foreign Minister. Winston Peters, who promotes racial profiling of Muslims, will become the public face of New Zealand on the world stage.

New Zealand's wild election ride came to an extraordinary finish this week as Labour Prime Minister Helen Clark pieced together what some call a bizarre minority Government with Mr Peters as Foreign Minister.

A new online service from the New Zealand Government hopes to connect New Zealand employers with skilled people looking for jobs in New Zealand. The service, entitled NetworkZ Online, is expected to begin working in Nov. 2005.

The Australian Government is continuing to hold Expos in Australia and around the world in an attempt to meet their needs for skilled workers.There will be expos until November 2005 with further expos planned for 2006.Australian employers are looking for people who meet the following criteria: