Released on = December 4, 2006, 3:56 am

Press Release Author = Neoli Marcos

Industry = Government

Press Release Summary = True to its slogan "The Place to Be", Victoria is now home
to as many as 65,000 skilled migrants, particularly the eclectic city of Melbourne.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistic, this is a record figure for the
state of Victoria since the government launched its well-spent $6 million Skilled
Migration Strategy to attract and retain skilled migrants for over a year now.

Press Release Body = True to its slogan "The Place to Be", Victoria is now home to
as many as 65,000 skilled migrants, particularly the eclectic city of Melbourne.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistic, this is a record figure for the
state of Victoria since the government launched its well-spent $6 million Skilled
Migration Strategy to attract and retain skilled migrants for over a year now.

More than 14,800 of those were overseas migrants, who helped swell the state's
overall population count to 5,078,466. Melbourne, in particular, is a favourite
city, with its restless business district, festive art scene, diverse culinary
sites, and an overall vibrant atmosphere.

"Victoria is making records as the leading Australian immigration for overseas
migrants while at a national level population growth is the highest in 17 years,"
state treasurer John Brumby said.

"This confirms Victoria's status as the leading non-resource based state with growth
behind only mineral rich Queensland and Western Australia."

With a brisk Australian visa program such as the 457 visa for skilled workers, the
state of Victoria hopes to secure its six million target population by the year
2025. Skilled migrants are still needed, not just by the state but by the rest of
Australia, in filling shortages in the workforce.

But the reality of Australian immigration isn't merely aimed at plugging gaps in the
industry and professional sector. At a more idealistic level, migration is giving
more colour, character, and diversity to the state of Victoria. People who migrate
to Australia mostly include British nationals, Indonesians, Indians, Italians,
Greeks, Chinese, and many others. Together, they create a lovely multicultural
Victoria that's quite possibly not just the Place to Be, but also the Place to Lose
Yourself In.

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