Current Australian New

1. Assurance of Support is no longer required for General Skilled Visas and Carer visas

2. Media Release

Senator Chris Evans  (17 February 2008)
Leader of the Government in the Senate
Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
Immigration package to ease skills shortage

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, today unveiled a package of migration measures designed to address Australia’s skills and labour shortages.

Senator Evans said the package had the potential to provide thousands of additional workers in the short term, especially for the labour-strapped mining and construction industries.

As and immediate measure, the Skilled Migration program will be increased by 6,000 places in 2007-2008. The increase will be made up of permanent employer sponsored visas and General Skilled Migration visas.

“Employer sponsored visas are the highest priority because they put a migrant worker directly into a skilled job,” Senator Evans said.

The additional 6,000 places will bring to 108,500  the total number of permanent visas granted under the Skilled Stream of the migration program in 2007-2008.

Senator Evans said that negotiations were also underway with other countries to expand the reciprocal

Working Holiday visa program for young people.

To specifically assist the construction industry, changes to the Working Holiday visa program will enable people who undertake at least 3 months work in the construction sector in regional Australia to extend their 12 month working holiday visa by another year.