Proposed Changes To 457 Skilled Visa Programme

[peter991]

This is from LiveInAustralia.com's latest monthly newsletter. LiveInAustralia.com is a Migration Agent.

Dear Xxxxxx, (name withheld)

I'm very happy to bring you big news on proposed changes that could encourage you to visit Australia under the 457 skilled visa program.

According to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released by the Immigration Department, 457 visa holders earned an average yearly salary of about $71,600, more than $15,000 above the average Australian salary.

In some industries, overseas workers earned salaries $25,000 a year more than the industry average. In the mining sector, 457 visa holders earned an average of $95,200 in 2006-07, compared with an average of $89,550 across the sector.

So now, to ease the skills crisis, the Federal Government is looking for ways to help big companies and state governments fast-track thousands of qualified foreign workers into jobs in mines and hospitals. But businesses say processing time for skilled workers is too long. "... they want to make decisions much quicker ... and they want to respond to demand much quicker," Senator Evans said.

The report is due to be tabled, and LIA will keep you informed of all new 457 provisions.

You might also be interested to know Australia's population is growing faster than at any time in almost 20 years. What's more, skilled workers like you, have helped lift net migration to a record 179,122 people in the year to September 2007.

If you wish to join these well paid, highly skilled immigrants, contact LIA now. We will help you, just as we have helped more than 80,000 skilled workers and their families so far.

Peter

[david96]

Wave of Chinese and Indians will change nation, 2020 summit told.

Extract from the Courier Mail Brisbane.

April 04, 2008.

AUSTRALIA needs to get ready for a new wave of Chinese and Indian immigrants as the "emerging economies" flex their muscles, delegates to the Australia 2020 Summit have been warned.

A new briefing paper for the mega-conference says Australia will be vastly different in another decade due to the rising influence of the Asian superpowers.

Not only will the Australian economy be more tuned into Asia but there will be more Indians and Chinese settling here.

"Migration will continue to be a short-term solution to skills shortages and will see people arriving from emerging economies such as India and China," the paper says.

Yesterday organisers released more than 200 pages of questions, background information and statistics for delegates and interested members of the public.