Australia (see also New Zealand)

Migration contributes to population boom, problems

Australia’s Bureau of Statistics revealed that the migration boom in Australia has increased the population at unprecedented rates in the period 2006- 2007, pushing growth up to a record 1.5 percent, or 315,700 additional people.  A breakdown of the growth shows compared with the previous year shows the following: there were 10,000 extra births (273,000, up from 263,000) and 31,000 more people due to migration (178,000, up from 147,000), although there were also 1,000 more deaths (135,000, up from 134,000).

In another realm, a study found that skilled migrant workers from different non-English speaking countries are contributing to the skills crisis in Australia instead of helping alleviate the problem.  According to the study by Monash University researchers, less than a third of foreigners on skilled workers’ visas are employed in their field.  From 2001 to 2006, almost 213,000 migrant workers came to Australia, mostly from non-English speaking countries.  But only 29.3 percent of those from non-English speaking countries were able to reach professional and managerial positions, unlike workers from English speaking countries who gained employment in these positions.  Professor Bob Birrell, one of the researchers, said that these workers are contributing to urban population growth and housing pressure.  He also said immigrants are finding that a university degree is no guarantee for a high-paying job.  He linked poor English skills and lack of job readiness to immigrants employed in jobs not matching their qualifications.  He urged the government to stop the influx of skilled migrants until the migrant workers currently present in the country are brought up to the standards of the profession which they are qualified for. 

Around 51.3 percent of life-long Australians living in areas with high immigration areas believe the number of immigrants is too high, even though the national figure stands only at 38.8 percent, according to a Mapping Social Cohesion survey.  The report describes life-long Australians as those born in the country to Australian parents and assesses that they are more likely to have negative perceptions on immigration policies.  Some 23.5 percent of life-long Australians held negative attitudes while nationally, the figure was only 18 percent.

Citizenship test linked to lower citizenship applications

Some migrants and refugees stopped applying for citizenship in Australia for fear of failing the citizenship test and being deported, Immigration Minister Chris Evans said on 29 April.  The government announced the day before that it will set up a committee to review the seven-month-old test, following reports revealing that citizen applications dropped after the test was introduced last October.  From January to March, only 16,024 migrants applied for citizenship, down from 38,850 recorded from the same period last year.  Though reports showed the test had a 95 percent pass rate, some are concerned whether this is fair for migrants.  Some are worried the English level in the test has reached the native speaker level, when the basic level is supposed to be used.

New Territory proposes flexible immigration rules

New Territory (NT) Chief Minister Paul Henderson is planning to ease entry requirements to attract more skilled migrants into the region.  In the economic forum of the Prime Minister’s conference in Canberra, the minister proposed incentives to settle in NT, as well as more flexible entry requirements and quotas for migrating into the region.  NT only gets less than one percent of the 175,000 migrants that enter Australia every year.  Most of the migrants settle in Sydney or Melbourne.

Residency for Iraqi workers in Australia

The Australian government announced on 9 April that it is willing to settle 600 Iraqis in the country for providing assistance in the 2003 US-led coalition to invade Iraq.  Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibbon told local radio that “interpreters and translators have played a very significant role in assisting with strategy and protection, and we feel we have a moral obligation to resettle them in Australia.”

Temporary migrant scheme to be reviewed

A six-month federal review of the temporary migrant workers scheme, also known as the 457 visa program, will look into issues such as the exploitation of migrant workers, salary levels and English language requirements.  The government has appointed Industrial Relations Commissioner Barbara Deegan to lead the review, which will provide options to improve the program’s integrity and address the main issues mentioned earlier. 

New visa rules for foreign students

The Immigration Ministry has put into effect new visa arrangements allowing foreign students in Australia to work part-time for 20 hours a week.  Now that working rights have been attached to all student visas, students are no longer required to submit additional applications before they can get part-time jobs.  Immigration Minister Chris Evans said this will make it easier for international students to work while studying and it will help industries face labor shortages.

Deporting irregular migrants is costly

Thousands of irregular and overstaying migrants detained in Australia have cost the country’s taxpayers a $20 million travel bill for deportation. Over 11,000 irregular migrants have been detained in the past year, and from that total, 5,056 cannot afford the air fares that will send them home.  Most of the migrants were caught in Queensland and other southern states.  Immigration Minister Senator Chris Evans said they will keep tracking down irregular workers and encouraged people to report workplaces hiring them.

Sources: Andrew Fraser, “Population soaring across country,” The Australian, 1 April 2008; Agencies, “Australia offers residency to Iraqi workers,” The Peninsula, 10 April 2008; AAP, “Australia to review skilled migration programme,” NZ Herald, 14 April 2008; Renee Viellaris, “$20m illegal migrant bill falls on taxpayers,” NEWS, 14 April 2008; Nick Calacouras, “Plan to open NT migrant borders,” Northern Territory News, 21 April 2008; NZPA, “Opposition points finger over Aussie exodus figures,” Stuff, 21 April 2008; “New study reveals immigration concerns,” Sydney Morning Herald, 21 April 2008; “New visa terms for foreign students,” The Age, 25 April 2008; “Citizenship test could be made easier,” The Age, 28 April 2008; Harriet Alexander, “Migrants add to skills crisis: study,” Sydney Morning Herald, 29 April 2008; Jewel Topsfield, “Citizenship test ‘spooks’ would-be Aussies,” The Age, 29 April 2008; DPA, “Immigrants miss out on Australia’s best jobs,” Khaleej Times, 29 April 2008; “Refugees scared of citizenship test,” The Age, 29 April 2008