Australia and New Zealand Immigration News

Nathan Guy MP, the New Zealand Minister of Immigration, gave a speech today (31st August 2012) in which he said that New Zealand welcomed immigrants, temporary workers and students. In a wide-ranging speech, he laid out the country's immigration policy. Speaking to the New Zealand Association for Migration and Investment, he said that immigration could help New Zealand's economy. In particular, it would be vital in the rebuilding of the city of Christchurch which, he said, would be 'the biggest single economic undertaking in New Zealand's history'.

The Australian government has launched a new leaflet to help inform recent immigrants to Australia about the government's settlement policy and to inform them of the services that are available to help them settle.

The Australian government has announced a consultation on draft legislation intended to protect the Australian labour market from firms which knowingly employ illegal labour. Chris Bowen MP, the Australian Immigration Minister, announced the consultation on the Migration Amendment (Reform of Employer Sanctions) Bill 2012.

Fact-finding missions by the Australian Defence Force (ADF) have shown that the asylum seeker detention centres on Nauru and Manus, Papua New Guinea, are in poor states of repair. Last week the Australian government legislated to re-open the centres, which were closed down eight years ago when the Australian Labor Party came to power. The Australian Home Office Minister Jason Clare said last week that the Nauru centre would be opened 'in weeks not months'.

The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) predicts that annual net overseas immigration will rise slowly to about 208,000 in the year ending in June 2016 from its current level of around 198,000 in the year ending in June 2012.

An application to grant temporary work visas to 2,062 foreign skilled workers has been submitted to the Australian government. The workers would work in Australian resources projects The application, made by British recruitment firm Cape, is the biggest block application for temporary '457' visas yet made. It became public when a series of letters between Cape Australia, unions and the Australian government were leaked to the Australian Sunday Times newspaper. Australian unions oppose the application calling it a 'slap in the face for Australian workers.'