Australia and New Zealand Immigration News

On Friday 14th September 2012 the Australian government sent the first group of asylum seekers to Nauru since the offshore asylum seeker processing camp was closed in 2008. 30 Sri Lankan men were flown from Christmas Island, an Australian island near Java, to Nauru by plane. They will live in a camp on Nauru while their asylum applications are processed. Initially they will live in tents because accommodation blocks have not been completed.

The Australian newspaper reports today 12th September 2012, that applications from mainland China to Australian educational institutions are soaring after several years of decline. A Chinese education agent says that the main reason that Chinese students are choosing Australia is the country's liberal immigration policy.

Australian immigration minister Chris Bowen has said that the first group of refugees who have travelled to Australia hoping to seek asylum will be sent to the re-opened refugee camp on Nauru this week. Mr Bowen said on 10th September 2012 that he had signed the authorisation document and would present it to parliament shortly. Mr Bowen addressed a press conference in Canberra at which he told the assembled journalists that any asylum seekers who had arrived since 13th August 2012, the day on which the new law permitting the offshore housing of refugees was passed, could now be sent to Nauru.

Business NZ, a leading pro-business lobby group in New Zealand, says that there are many vacancies in the New Zealand economy that need filling. It has called on the government to do more to attract migrants to fill those posts.

Chris Bowen MP, the Australian Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, today announced a change to the rules that will enable the parents of naturalized Australian citizens and permanent residents to obtain a 5 year tourist visa. Parents who are waiting for a parent visa, for which there is a long waiting list can apply. 'I know many people are waiting patiently in the queue for a parent visa so we want to provide more generous tourist visas to enable regular extended family visits,' he said.

It is feared that 100 people have died after a wooden boat sank in the sea off the Indonesian island of Java on Wednesday 29th August 2012. It is believed that the boat contained asylum seekers, many from Afghanistan, who were attempting to reach Australia by sea. 54 people, believed to be Afghans, have been rescued. It is believed there were about 150 people on the boat, including women and children, when it sank only eight nautical miles off Java.