Released on = October 26, 2006, 5:35 am

Press Release Author = John Bell

Industry = Government

Press Release Summary = Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration Andrew Robb will
foreshadow the changes which include an increase in the waiting period for people
wanting to become Australian citizens from the current three years to four.

Press Release Body = Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration Andrew Robb will
foreshadow the changes which include an increase in the waiting period for people
wanting to become Australian citizens from the current three years to four.

The proposals follow changes last year in response to the terror threat that lifted
the waiting period from two to three years with claims that the longer the waiting
period that there was less chance of migrants falling with "extreme groups".

There is also talk of lifting the waiting period further to five years which would
be floated during a brief period of public consultation.

The skilled migration scheme, which attracts almost 60,000 permanent and 60,000
temporary workers to Australia each year, has been heavily criticised over the past
month following claims it is being exploited by unscrupulous employers.

A joint parliamentary committee has concluded that the skilled migration program
needed improvement with the committee\'s chairman, West Australian Liberal MP Don
Randall, saying that Australia\'s skills shortage made skilled migration essential,
but the existing system was confusing and frustrating.

\"The current picture is complex and a number of witnesses liken the tasks of
navigating Australia\'s skill recognition system to trying to find their way through
a maze,\" Mr Randall told parliament. Skills assessments should be simplified, he
said.

But the committee also said all applicants for skilled visas, including those
seeking 457 visas, should be able to speak vocational English at a minimum and a
clear proficiency test should be established by the immigration department.

Migrants should have access to English language training in combination with work
experience opportunities, while Higher Education Contribution Scheme-style loans for
trades training for humanitarian program entrants should also be created, the
committee said.

According to the immigration department, Australia accepted 59,507 skilled migrants
in 2005/06 and 58,140 workers on temporary 457 visas in the same year to the end of
April.


Source: AAP September 18, 2006

Web Site = http://www.nationalvisas.com.au

Contact Details = National Visas
Web site: http://www.nationalvisas.com.au
Address: 3 - 118 Church Street
Hawthorn, Victoria
Australia 3122
Phone: +61 (0) 3 9697 4922
Fax: +61 (0) 3 9815 1544