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Skilled migration shake-up

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Skilled migration shake-up

YUKO NARUSHIMA

February 6, 2010

THE federal government is set to overhaul Australia's skilled migration program, but industry bodies fear it will throw the flagging international education sector into further disarray.
The changes, due to be announced by Immigration Minister Chris Evans on Monday, will include amendments to the ''migration occupations in demand'' list, which sets out areas where skilled workers are needed and awards ''points'' to migrants applying to work in these areas.
The changes, which are aimed at meeting the country's long-term skill needs, are being heralded as ''significant policy reforms'' by Immigration Department secretary Andrew Metcalfe.
Senator Evans will detail the changes in a speech to industry and union representatives, including the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, AiGroup, the Minerals Council of Australia and the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union.
The government is also expected to reconsider January 1 changes to the temporary ''457'' category of visa, which businesses have criticised for impeding the ability of Australian employers to recruit desperately needed workers from overseas.
In private discussions, immigration officials have said the government would support changes that place a greater focus on employer-sponsored visas, and give state governments power to import workers under state sponsorship visas.
Though points migrants earn for working jobs on the demand list are small, they can tip the balance between being eligible to live in Australia and not being admitted. An industry source said skilled migrants under 30 most frequently used the points system.
The changes are expected to break the link between permanent residency and trade occupations, such as hairdressing and cookery, currently on the demand list and attractive to overseas students wishing to stay on in Australia.
''It's a very sensitive area,'' the industry source said. ''The problem is, we can't compel students to work in the job for which they train.''
The implications for Australia's $17 billion education sector are significant.
The changes could dash the permanent residency hopes of foreign students enrolled in a sector already battling college foreclosures and bad publicity for attacks on Indian students.
''In the short term, registered training organisations could face closure and bigger providers like TAFE could take a big financial hit,'' the source said.
The Skilled Migration Consultative Panel was due to complete its review of the migration occupations in demand list in late 2009. It last met on January 21 to discuss imminent changes.
At the meeting, immigration officials told interest groups the current points test for migrants would be revised as it was inefficient in responding to employers' immediate skills needs.
The changes are expected to take effect from midnight the day of the announcement, with industry warned of a surge in applications from people wishing to take advantage of the current system before it changes.
The chief executive of the Australian Council of Private Education and Training, Andrew Smith, said he hoped the review factored in the value of the education sector to the economy and looked after students.
''We'd be concerned to ensure that changes have appropriate transition arrangements so students have certainty and disruptions to this vital sector are minimised,'' Mr Smith said.