Australia and New Zealand Immigration News

The South Australian State Government recently announced their new State Sponsorship list for overseas workers to live and work in South Australia. State Sponsorship is an excellent way for people with the right skills to immigrate to Australia.

One requirement for State Sponsorship is having skills in an occupation listed in South Australia's State Sponsorship Interim Occupation List, updated as of September 2010. This is a temporary occupation list identifying priority skills needed in South Australia.

Australia remains a very popular immigration destination. The new Immigration Minister Chris Bowen, and Parliamentary Secretary, Senator Kate Lundy have on behalf of the Australian government spoken in support of a diverse and multicultural Australia. The Immigration Minister went onto to say the following:

"The meaning of multicultural Australia far exceeds a portfolio title- it is about how we draw on the benefits of Australia's diversity and how we create an inclusive society," Bowen said.

The number of students from China applying for student visas to study at Australian universities for the following summer has dropped dramatically. Changes to Australian skilled immigration are thought to be the cause of the decline in student visa applications.

Recently 20 people from seven Countries including from Japan, the United Kingdom, India and Korea became Australian citizens in a special ceremony in Burnie, Tasmania to launch Australian Citizenship Day 2010. Thousands of people across Australia will become Australian citizens in Citizenship Day celebrations.

Australia did not suffer to the same extent as many other Countries during the recent economic downturn in 2008 and 2009. The unemployment rate over the last two years has been between 4 percent and 5.8 percent; Very low compared to most Countries.

The Australian economy is in great need of skilled workers. Many industries including the housing and mining industries are worried that as demand picks up, they will be unable to find the skills they need.

Immigration is a major issue as Australia goes to the polls. It is still not certain which party will win. The two leaders of the main Political Parties are Julia Gillard the first female Prime Minister and leader of the Labor Party and Tony Abbott of the Liberal Party. If Tony Abbott wins then Julia Gillard would only have in office as Prime Minister for a few months.