The Australian government will look to boost the country’s business visa immigration programmes in the 2014/15 migration year, but bringing in skilled workers remains the country’s priority.
“The Abbott Government is ensuring our migration programme matches the nation’s economic and skills needs while also contributing to a cohesive and strong community,”Scott Morrison, Australia’s Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, announced earlier this week.
“This Budget allocates almost 68 per cent of Australia’s migration places to skilled migration, and reprioritises employer-sponsored visas.”
Morrison continued: “With the reprioritisation towards employer-sponsored visas, employers will be assisted in finding workers to fill vital positions where they have been unable to find local workers. This also protects Australian workers, who will have less direct competition from independent migrants who arrive without a guaranteed job.”
In total, Australia’s 2014-15 migration programme will provide a total of 190,000 places including 128,550 for skilled migration, 60,885 places for family migration and 565 places for migration under the special eligibility stream.
“The family stream will see more places being allocated for partners and children which together increase by 335 places, in recognition of the strong social and economic benefits of close family reunion, while the number of places in the contributory parent category has also been increased by 500 places,” the Minister continued.
“Changes to the skilled and family stream intakes will provide approximately AUS$35 million in savings,’ Minister Morrison concluded.
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