Australian Immigration Discriminating

[TizMe]

The Mrs just told me that there is an article on page 2 of today's Thai Rath newspaper that says that Johnny Howard is making it easier for Irish and English immigration to Australia and harder for Asians...

I have searched the Aussie Newspapers online but I cant find out what she is talking about.

Any clues?

[samran]

Thai Rath is hardly quality journalism! Bit like getting your daily news from the telegraph or the sun!

Australian immigration is based a policy of non-discrimination. Actually, the proportion of Australia's immigrant intake which comes from Asia grows each year.

What I am guessing the article might be talking about is Howards comments in 1988 when he said that Australia should consider slowing Asian immigration.

However, he professes not to beleive this anymore, and in actually fact under his government, legal immigration levels from Asia are as high than they ever have been. (Given that his own parliamentary seat quite now has quite high level of Asians living in it, John howard has gone to beat up on Muslims, so Asians are now OK in his book)

Other than that, all preferential treatment for British in Australia was dismantled in law in the 1970's and the last vestiges of British influence in australia were taken away with the Australia Act in 1984

[Dickie]

in the 1970's and the last vestiges of British influence in australia were taken away with the Australia Act in 1984

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You've obviously never been to Perth or Freo.

[snoophound]

I think i read the article

It stated Uk immigration was at a high of over 18k this (asian all about 12k about 8k from china.....jeez seems like a lot more than that )

And yes a lot in WA.

Big shortage of skilled tradespeople in au,builders,welders,electricians,air conditioning skills etc.

Most were coming from UK and Ireland .

Who would want a Thai electrician or builder?

in the 1970's and the last vestiges of British influence in australia were taken away with the Australia Act in 1984

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You've obviously never been to Perth or Freo.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[samran]

in the 1970's and the last vestiges of British influence in australia were taken away with the Australia Act in 1984

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You've obviously never been to Perth or Freo.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I thought Perth and Freo were now part of South Africa

[SK1972]

That is not entirely true. Many of my friends have recently received their migration approvals and papers to Australia (all not marriage related/spouse application)

It all depends on which Asian country you are talking about and what qualifications/ground of migration the Asian is applying for. Asians from the less developed countries in the IndoChina region (Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam) and Phillppines are less likely to be approved as their "reputation" precedes them......unless they are skilled migration (e.g. doctors/nurses/IT etc)

The number of "illegals" in Australia, especially Asians...pleading to stay on doesn't help either!

[Pink Mist]

I remember making an enquiry at the DIMA office in Adelaide about a Thai immigration isssue and the young lady at the counter produced a piece of paper which had Thailand as one of the " overstay risk " countries.

I guess that would indicate the reason for the attitudes of immigration officials.

[Khutan]

Samran;

Thai Rath is hardly quality journalism!

I am shocked, my wife constantly reminds me what a quality paper it is. Those quirky stories about the inhabitants of Bang-Na, the dalliances of "Superstars" etc etc.

But seroiusly, I feel the Australian Embassy does not enforce the Act as they should. If you spend the money and call the Immi help line, what they say is sometimes totally different to what the Visa processing people do.

They just seem to like to make you jump through hoops, I was there a little while ago and it was my belief (and someone in Canberra's) belief that I had satisfied all parts of the act for my wife to get another Visa. The offhand and indifferent response from the visa people was "Oh thats not how we do it here", they don't care really what the Act actually says, more their local operating guidelines.

Personally I think they are an embarrasment to Australia, particularly with their attitude and lack of respect.

[Dickie]

Personally I think they are an embarrasment to Australia, particularly with their attitude and lack of respect.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Looks like they've learnt something from the Thais, doesn't it?

[350torana]

Are we talking about immigrants here, or visas for spouses, fiances, gfs ect? I know they are all immigrants but the word visas seems to be pretty relevant to this forum .

Anyhows, my two cents worth. I do beleive our current government does discriminate towrds south-east asians in regards to visas. A western European or north American would have alot less trouble obtaining a visa than someone from the Phillipnes, Vietnam...or Thailand , your chances are worse if u are female.

Maybe i just have sour grapes because of the hoops we have had to jump through to bring my wife and baby to my country. But, it really gets my gall that every female from one of the mentioned countries is considered a hooker and judging someone from the country they come from is blantantly racist . Maybe Amanda Slobstone is jealous ?Anyhows makes me cringe to be Australian to way my wife is judged guilty before innocent because she is Thai .

[samran]

Totally agree with the unfairness of the hoops they make Thai's and nationals from other 'developing' nations, who want to go and live, even visit, Australia.

Now, I am no John Howard lover, but there is another side of the coin.

Have a look how easy they make international students, who graduate from an Australian university, stay in OZ. A majority of these people are Asian and they are in high demand in Australia. I know quite a few Thai students who have easily gotten PR in Australia within 6 months of graduation.

[cojones]

story has been in the UK press this week >>>

********************************************

'New Poms' head for Australia

By Nick Squires in Sydney

(Filed: 23/11/2004)

The number of British immigrants settling in Australia has outstripped those from South East Asia for the first time in a decade, according to figures published yesterday

A report, released by the immigration department, showed a marked rise in the number of migrants from the UK, with the annual total more than doubling in the past four years from 9,000 to 19,000.

Britons easily overtook the next biggest source of migrants, South East Asia, which provided 16,800 arrivals. South Asia, north-east Asia and sub-Saharan Africa each accounted for another 11,000. The dramatic increase in British migrants signals a return to Australia's Anglo-Celtic roots and drew comparisons with the 1950s and 1960s, when thousands of so-called "£10 Poms'' flocked to Australia under the assisted passage scheme.

Analysts said it also reflected the Anglophile leanings of John Howard, the Prime Minister, who has been criticised for aligning Australia too closely with America and Britain, particularly over the Iraq war, at the expense of relations with Asian countries.

"I wouldn't say it's a conscious plot but it's a trend the government will certainly be happy with," said Dr James Jupp, from the Australian National University in Canberra. "It will blunt the anti-Asian sentiment expressed by the rise of Pauline Hanson's One Nation party in the late 1990s."

The changes in immigration patterns have occurred in the nine years since Mr Howard's conservative coalition succeeded the pro-Asia Labour government of Paul Keating.

The proportion of immigrants from English-speaking countries such as Britain, South Africa and India has jumped from 37 per cent when Mr Howard first took office, to more than 50 per cent of last year's intake of 111,000. The change is a result of the government putting more emphasis on skilled migrants rather than refugees or relatives seeking to join their families in Australia.

Migrants from English-speaking nations are more likely to hold university degrees than those from poorer countries and also score more points for their proficiency in English.

"Back in the sixties Australia took anyone with two arms and two legs," Dr Jupp said. "These days they have to be far more skilled."

Western Australia was the most attractive state for British settlers, followed by New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria. "Western Australia has always attracted a lot of Brits and Perth is the most British city in Australia," Dr Jupp said. "It's got beautiful hot weather, miles and miles of beaches and cheap housing, and a lot of people have got friends and relatives there already."

Surveys in the UK consistently show that a large proportion of the population would leave if they could.

In April a poll by ICM Research found that 52 per cent of Britons said they would consider emigrating.

High crime levels, house prices, long working hours and bad weather were all cited as reasons to leave.

Australia was named the most desirable destination, followed by Spain, America, Canada and New Zealand.

© Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2004. Terms & Conditions of reading.

Commercial information. Privacy and Cookie Policy.

[cojones]

A western European or north American would have alot less trouble obtaining a visa than someone from the Phillipnes, Vietnam...or Thailand , your chances are worse if u are female.

Maybe i just have sour grapes because of the hoops we have had to jump through to bring my wife and baby to my country. But, it really gets my gall that every female from one of the mentioned countries is considered a hooker and judging someone from the country they come from is blantantly racist . Maybe Amanda Slobstone is jealous ?Anyhows makes me cringe to be Australian to way my wife is judged guilty before innocent because she is Thai .

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

****************************

dont upset yourself , its prolly because she has no skills and speaks poor english

so does not gain the points ...plus girls from these countries have a poor track record .

if she was from HongKong or Singapore i guess it would be different ..

see the article posted ....

[Pink Mist]

Personally I think they are an embarrasment to Australia, particularly with their attitude and lack of respect.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Looks like they've learnt something from the Thais, doesn't it?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The people who do the interviews are Thai

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I remember making an enquiry at the DIMA office in Adelaide about a Thai immigration isssue and the young lady at the counter produced a piece of paper which had Thailand as one of the " overstay risk " countries.

I guess that would indicate the reason for the attitudes of immigration officials.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The biggest overstay group in Australia by nationality is the Brits.

[Pink Mist]

probably right doc, I don't think the list is statistically correct or how current it is, but it's there.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

probably right doc, I don't think the list is statistically correct or how current it is, but it's there.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And remember Bronc, it was the late great Arthur Caldwell that said ( on Asian Migration ) two Wongs don't make a White

[Khutan]

Samran;

Have a look how easy they make international students, who graduate from an Australian university, stay in OZ. A majority of these people are Asian and they are in high demand in Australia. I know quite a few Thai students who have easily gotten PR in Australia within 6 months of graduation.

Absolutly, that is a shameless industry in itself. The universities (possibly the ones that advertise alot on TV ???) charge a premium and therefore improve the stipend of the elite academia at the various "Seats of learning".

A foreign student makes alot more in fees than a local one. Even if I enrolled my children as a full-fee paying student the university gets less than a foreign student...

I could not get my son enrolled as a full fee paying student, "oh sorry not enough places" on his Australian Passport. When he showed he had a foreign passport, "oh well, we can enrol you as a foreign student".

Face it Foreign students is an Australian export industry and little else. It just means Australian citizens don't have the same opportunity to be educated as they did before.

I have never been a great political supporter of either side, but one of the great things Gough Whitlam did was make University free for Australians. I think the days of that sort of thing are sadly gone forever.

[Pink Mist]

good old arfur

[dr_Pat_Pong]

good old arfur

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Arfur Daley was the reincarnated Arfur Caldwell ( so a Thai monk told me )

[strawberry]

In the early 50's when I arrived in Australia the first 2 questions asked of me were

1 who the eff are you

2 sh8t this is a good country f*cked up by a few AustraLIANS TRUE

JOE

[Crushdepth]

The Mrs just told me that there is an article on page 2 of today's Thai Rath newspaper that says that Johnny Howard is making it easier for Irish and English immigration to Australia and harder for Asians...

I have searched the Aussie Newspapers online but I cant find out what she is talking about.

I suspect you can't find it because its not true. Immigration to Australia is actually getting easier, but the thing is this: The selection process is heavily biased towards young and *skilled* immigrants and if you *aren't* young and skilled yes you are going to have a ###### of a time. Some people like to twist this into 'discrimination against Asians' but really thats a load of &lt;deleted&gt;. My flatmate (Malaysia) just got his PR recently, no problem at all.

I'm not saying that the Oz embassy doesn't hassle people that apply for visas etc - they do and its a disgrace - but that's a separate issue.

[350torana]

Yeah, my post last night was made in the heat of the moment , mostly because problems with visa process . I know english skills and qualifications do play a part. My wife is Thai, a good middle class Bangkok girl who speaks reasonable english and studied two years in high school in Australia in the mid 90's (paying alot of money as well) , has a bachelor degree. But, still made to jump through hoops because of her nationality. I just wonder if a North American or Western European married to an Australian would have the same troubles. Oh well.

I agree that education for Asians in Australia is big business . Not only Universities, but private high schools as well . Don't get me wrong, wheni was at uni the Asian students would knuckle down studying and pass with honours, while most of the locals (myself included) spend most of the time at piss up society things or smoking buds. All that fun and still pay of the HECS debt:P

[patya dan]

I sent an email to the Australian Embassy in Bangkok and asked them to make a comment regarding the article. This is the reply that I got.

Subject:    Migration to Australia - Background

The Australian Embassy in Bankok has asked that I reply direct to your question concerning Asian migration to Australia following the article which appeared in a local newspaper and the exchange of views on a local internet forum. The following information puts the discussion of this issue in perspective.

Terry Walls

Public Affairs

Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs

'The following table clearly indicates, the number of migrants from all Asia is 38% - more than twice that arriving from Europe. The argument that Australia favours migrants from the United Kingdom and Ireland is clearly fallacious.

Australian Migration by Source 2002-03

Oceania                    15 517      16.5%

Europe                     19 789      21.1%

Middle East & North Africa 10 550      11.2%

Southeast Asia             15 276      16.3%

Northeast Asia             10 348      11.0%

Southern Asia               9 015       9.6%

Central Asia                1 043       1.1%

Northern America            1 975       2.1%

South America, Central

America & the Caribbean     1 267       1.3%

Sub-Saharan Africa          8 370       8.9%

TOTAL (including ‘not stated’)         93,914

Australia has a non-discriminatory immigration policy, which means that anyone from any country can apply to migrate, regardless of their ethnic origin, gender, race or religion. Migration to Australia is dependent on the applicant’s ability to meet the migration criteria of the day, which are established to meet Australia’s national interest and needs.

There are different criteria for the various visa categories, and all migrants must meet Australia’s rules on health and character. Migrants are chosen from two broad categories – Skill Stream and Family Stream – while the Humanitarian Program caters for people from refugee or refugee-like situations in urgent need of resettlement.

The total migrant intake in any one financial year is made up by adding together the Migration and Humanitarian Programs.

It should be noted that nearly one in four of Australia’s 20 million people was born overseas. It is also quite correct to point out that in 2002-03 the United Kingdom was the largest birthplace group of migrants followed by New Zealand, China and India. The number of settlers arriving in Australia between July 2002 and June 2003 totalled 93,914. They came from more than 150 countries.  Most were born in the United Kingdom (13.3 per cent), New Zealand (13.2 per cent), China (7.1 per cent) and India (6. 2per cent).'

[Pink Mist]

maybe you could email him again for the statistics regarding visa application numbers in various categories from Thailand and their failure rate

[dr_Pat_Pong]

maybe you could email him again for the statistics regarding visa application numbers in various categories from Thailand and their failure rate

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have it on good authority that the Oz Embassy reads ThaiVisa Bronc. <_<

[Pink Mist]

I have allways known that Pat and one poster in particular springs to mind, could we have a lotto ticket bet on who it is ?

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I have allways known that Pat and one poster in particular springs to mind, could we have a lotto ticket bet on who it is ?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No idea mate. Spoil me and tell all.

[Pink Mist]

wouldnt be correct to name the member here but my PM will do.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

wouldnt be correct to name the member here but my PM will do.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

A trans Tasman refugee Bronc. Still fancies the odd jumbuck though.