Australia and New Zealand Immigration News

Today the Australian Government announced an increase in the pass mark for the General Skilled-Independent visa category for migration to Australia from 115 to 120 points. This will increase the skills of migrants who intend to come and work in Australia on a permanent basis. The last time the pass mark was increased was in July 2002, from 110 to 115 points.

This change is intended both to increase the skills and the numbers of migrants coming to Australia and will in particular try to attract migration to regional Australia.

The joint standing committee on migration has proposed that the age limit of 45 should be removed on skilled migration applications for Australia. Currently, migration legislation is such that no one over the age of 45 can apply for residency in Australia under the General Skilled categories.

The Australian Federal Government has introduced a bill into parliament that would impose time limits on migration cases to reduce the number of appeals files against immigration application decisions.

The purpose of this bill is to clear a backlog of innumerous migration cases stuck in the Australian courts, saving the Government at least A$5 million in costs.

The current Multicultural Affairs Minister has stated to Parliament that many migrants who have lost their migration cases appeal through the courts system in order to buy themselves more time in Australia.

In February, it was announced by the Australian Government that a new minimum salary level will be set for positions being filled by overseas workers on temporary business visas (subclass 457).

The minimum required salary will increase from AUD$35,828 per annum to AUD$37,720 a year for most occupations.

The increase has been made in response to the overall average earnings for all Australian workers, as at February 2003.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) announced today that over 20,000 new jobs were created in Australia in November of this year, which means that the unemployment rate has dropped to 5.6%, a 14-year low.

Statistics show that full-time staff positions increased by as much as 27,900 positions but that part-time jobs fell, keeping the total employment opportunities down to 20,700.

In spite of market predictions, which expected only an increase of 10,000 jobs, the past few months have seen the lowest jobless rate in Australia since December 1989.

Australia and Italy have signed a reciprocal Working Holiday Maker visa arrangements between these two countries. The agreement, signed in Italy by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer, and the Italian Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Margherita Boniver, was welcomed by the Acting Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, Gary Hardgrave. He stated that the fact that Italy will be included in this reciprocal programme demonstrates the close relationship between the two countries.