Australia and New Zealand Immigration News

Australia has released their Enterprise Migration Agreement submission guidelines designed to help "project owners and prime contractors on eligible resource projects" to hire overseas workers.

Australia is currently experiencing a major boom in the mining Industry; Companies do not have enough workers to complete all scheduled projects. The government has stepped in with EMAs to help alleviate labour shortages by providing a streamlined immigration process for foreign workers.

Australia Immigration Minister Chris Bowen launched Australian Citizenship Day 2011 celebrations with a special citizenship ceremony at the World famous Sydney Opera House.

Over 40 people from 16 countries became citizens of Australia at Sydney Opera House. They are the first of approximately 3,000 people who will become citizens at ceremonies on and around Australian Citizenship Day on 17 September 2011.

For five months in a row more migrants left New Zealand than arrived; The devastating earthquake of 22 February 2011 prompted people to move to Australia and elsewhere.

Permanent migration departures exceeded arrivals by 220 in July of 2011. This five month continuous period of net emigration out of New Zealand is the longest since 2001.

According to Statistics New Zealand, arrivals exceeded departures for the year to July 2011 by only 2,867, the lowest level since the year to October of 2001.

Despite the recent huge increase in the number of accountants obtaining skilled immigration visas to Australia there is still unfulfilled demand for accountants in Australia. Skills Australia intends to keep the occupation on its list of occupations in demand.

"We are keeping a watch on accountants but at the moment the data, and the advice that were getting from the professional associations, is that they should still be on the Skilled Occupation List," said Robin Shreeve, Skills Australia CEO.

One of Australia's biggest contractors is refusing to bid on new contracts until it can find enough workers to deal with skilled labour shortages. Demand for labour in Australia is at an all time high; Firms desperately need to hire overseas workers.

The company, Leighton Holdings, says that its ability to fulfil new contracts is being severely hampered by a lack of skilled workers.

"We won't bid for projects where there is a labour risk that we can't manage," said CEO David Stewart.

Australia releases details of migration numbers

Australia has doubled the number of skilled migration visas set aside for regional Australia, "ensuring critical skills needs in high-demand sectors and regional areas were being addressed."