Easier visa for rich retirees

By Rebecca DiGirolamo and Sophie Morris

January 13, 2004

RICH retirees would be lured from overseas to regional Australia and skilled migrants would find it easier to get visas if they spent two years outside Sydney under a federal Government initiative unveiled yesterday.

Acting Prime Minister John Anderson announced a new visa category for self-funded retirees would apply from November 1, to boost regional economies struggling with declining populations.

From July 1, skilled migrants will be able to gain permanent residency after spending two years living and working anywhere but Sydney.

They will need fewer points to gain a visa. The NSW Government is the only state authority actively seeking to reduce the migration intake in its capital city.

The announcement follows a declaration last year by the federal Opposition that it wants at least 45 per cent of skilled migrants funnelled to regional Australia, up from 12per cent.

The government scheme has no target for regional skilled migrants.

The re-routing of skilled migrants follows a 92per cent rise in the number of skilled migrants settling in regional Australia last year compared with 2001/02, with record flows to Tasmania.

Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone said the new visas would not increase Australia's total migration intake, but would "redirect" migrants with skills and grey money to regional areas.

Only retirees aged over 55 and backed by $800,000 to $1 million of net worth and willing to invest $500,000 in state and territory bonds will receive a four-year rolling visa.

They must be sponsored by a state or territory government, have no dependents, pay a one-off $8000 visa charge and have full private health cover. "All in all, they will bring benefits to Australia while they spend four years of their retirement here," Senator Vanstone said.

She said the two-stage, three-year temporary visa for skilled migrants would force thousands of people into regional areas for at least two years and the Government hoped they would stay longer.

$AUD 800,000 equates to around 2.4 million Thai baht. That seems to indicate that Thai visa charges and extensions are not too bad.

CHOKE, SPLUTTER, I'm an Aussy and did the government keep a political straight face when they advertised this.

Nobody show this to the Thai PM, he may get ideas.....

$AUD 800,000 equates to around 2.4 million Thai baht. That seems to indicate that Thai visa charges and extensions are not too bad.

that would be about 22,000,000 Thai Baht Doc..

I have been away so long.. did Pauline actually get in

I heard Pauline's new condo has all the mod cons.....

$AUD 800,000 equates to around 2.4 million Thai baht.  That seems to indicate that Thai visa charges and extensions are not too bad.

that would be about 22,000,000 Thai Baht Doc..

I have been away so long.. did Pauline actually get in

You got me Gentleman...too much red perhaps. Pauline got out, but a real outsider to get in. Peter Beattie goes to the polls on February 7. What a throwaway piece for you to drop into conversations

I think they are flying kites with this type of visa.

The day it was announced there was a lot of negative press and outcry from migrant groups about how this could encourage terrorists into the country.

You gotta remember fat mandy has a big mouth, the've gotta get it thru the senate and with a federal election looming and the success of doing that is low.

They are trying the water for a new policy I reckon.

Gentleman Pauline won't go back she bought another chip shop I heard (only joking), I think she is now gonna champion the cause of aboriginal women in custody.

Doc, Peter is a shoe in, his popularity is the highest of any premier in Oz and his opposite number is a drop kick.

Ole Pete is wheeling Latham in to play ...or so the Australian says. If someone wants to back the coalition take the bet .

Don't think even little jonny would back them.

He is gonna have to shut slobstone up, they might have to move her into another portfolio she's getting a bit of heat in this one. How many is that now? 4

She is taking heat over E Visa now apparently that's how that froggy terrorist got his.

Little Jonnie's record on dealing with rogue Minister's is pretty lame. Ole Wilson Tuckey of Ironbar fame wasn't a performer and that, coupled with the Ministerial letter shafted him. Either, on their own, wouldn't have got the leather chaired LTD off him.

In recent history peter weeth and the card scam, armitage and his well a couple the MRI leaked info and also scammed his future job in that clinic. off topic I guess but I will talk about jonnie and his little helpers anytime anyone wants to.

I guess you know my shirt colour Doc.

In the old days, nipple pink it is kinda hard to discern the differences between the left and right ( so called ) My BA (Hons) in polly science was all done under lefty lecturers ( they'd work ole Karl Marx....Chico's cousin... into a shopping list ) These days they seem to be on the thin line of centralists ( like the parties )

wasnt having a go doc, thought it might of been because of the red

You gotta remember fat mandy has a big mouth, the've gotta get it thru the senate and with a federal election looming and the success of doing that is low.

I am pretty sure that there is no need to pass legislation to make these new rules to come into effect. As the article says, July 1 is the date when this new programme starts up. Plus, I don't think the Australian electorate particularly care about a bunch of old fogies moving to OZ so these new rules won't actually be an election issue.

Funny thing about little Johnny is that even though I'm not particularly fond of him (and despite his rhetoric) migration levels under this government are actually at their highest, comparable to the Hawke-Keating governments which in my opinion, is a great thing.

I have to agree Samran. Migration levels are good, and seemingly getting better. A lot of Thai students are getting in on a skills basis too.

Just returning home from shopping and who's being interviewed?

slobstone defending the E Visa.

They mention Willy Brigitte and I had to laugh she is a bit sensitive about that subject cause thats how he came to Oz. she goes on about checks and measures and bells and wistles going off but really can't answer a simple question.

"What happened in Willies case and what is to stop it happening again?" she answers " waffle waffle french authorties, when I was justice minister bla bla and so it goes.

Another one she side stepped "It will be easier to get into Australia with this new Visa than importing cheese into Oz"

"When i was customs minister waffle waffle bla bla"

She never mentioned the education portfolio and I seem to remember one other she had.

Any way she's Labours' secret weapon and I hope she stays on the front bench, leave her there please little jonny himmler

Hey Bronco... are you showing any political leanings here ?

Immigration UP Unemployment down Budget IN SURPLUS Housing Prices EXPERIENCING NORMAL CYCLIC GROWTH -- Me thinks Johnnies team have topped the How to lie with statistics course this semester

Mijan24

Lies lies and statistics.

The unemployment figure is not even close to the real number of people unemployed, it is an anecdotal figure that is easily massaged.

They are right about the surplus the reason being is the g.s.t. and the fact they didn't understand exactly what was gonna happen using the model they did.

little jonnie has been known to be a bit careless with the truth before.

I don't remember who said it but it goes like this Doc " the worst Labour Government is still a lot better than the best tory one"

The only thing that shags up a democracy is the bloody pollies .