Important: Government cuts migration

[sim]

Not sure whether there are any hard facts on this yet (DIAC hasn't posted an official update), but there is an interesting article in ABC that may spell trouble for some people looking to migrate to Australia:

In a bid to protect Australian jobs, the number of skilled migrants allowed into Australia is being slashed.

In a sign of the times, the permanent skilled migration program is being slashed by 18,000 over the next three months, with no foreign bricklayers, plumbers, carpenters or electricians allowed in for the foreseeable future.

Full story here:

Boom gate lowered to protect jobs - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

[haoma2008]

The Rudd Government will cut the 2008-09 permanent skilled migration program by 14 per cent ...

Complete text pls go to the following link:

Government cuts migration program

[ina]

Does that mean that people whose occupation is not listed on either the CSL or the MODL shouldn't even try to lodge an application because they wouldn't be processed anyway?

[donRyan]

Thanks for keeping us updated Haoma. It's good to know what's happening at the higher level since this has a direct impact on everyone applying.

Cheers

[haoma2008]

The new CSL:

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/gener...kills-list.pdf

[Shankar]

Do the latest changes in the migration apply to the applications already filed as well?
If so, does their application gets cancelled? or lie in the pool until the migration law okays their application in future.?

[kaz101]

I've merged some of these posts so that the information is in the same place rather than in different posts....

I've just read this one....
Australia cuts worker migrant intake by 14 percent: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

A small part of it reads..
"The Master Builders Association supported the cuts, saying unemployment is rising in the building and construction sector.

"We're projecting at least a loss of 50,000 jobs in this industry over the next 12 months," the association's chief executive, Wilhelm Harnisch, told ABC radio."

Regards,
Karen

[kaz101]

No-one really knows what this means until they start putting it into action.

If you have an agent I would talk to them.

If you haven't started the process and weren't going to use an agent, I would strongly suggest that you interview a few of them in light of this new information and see whether they think you stand a chance of getting in. If they don't think you can get in then they will tell you. You don't have to use them but I think that now more than ever you'll need their advice.

I wish we could tell you more but most of us on here (apart from the agents) are not experts - we're just sharing info from our own experiences to make the move for others a little easier.....

Regards,
Karen

[SOMV]

We have today been advised of the following:

"Minister Evans has today announced cuts to the 2008-09 permanent skilled migration program by 14 per cent "to protect local jobs while ensuring employers can access skilled professionals in industries still experiencing skills shortages".

The changes are a 14 per cent cut in the 2008-09 permanent skilled migration program intake [from 133 500 to 115 000], and changes to the Critical Skills List (CSL).

The Minister's announcement said that occupations removed from the Critical Skills List include Bricklayers, Carpenters, Plumbers, Welders, and Metal Fitters, and that the list will now comprise mainly health and medical, engineering and IT professions.

The new Critical Skills List is now being used by DIAC, but has not yet been made public. Apparently all trades occupations have been removed except Gas Fitters, Aircraft Maintenance Engineers and Gasfitters.

We can therefore expect the Critical Skills List to be under continual review and changes can be expected at any time, depending on current economic circumstances.

The Minister's media release can be found at: Government cuts migration program"

Here is a link to the new list:
http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/gener...kills-list.pdf

[SOMV]

Hi again,

This is a copy of an email that we have sent to our clients to explain the changes and the impact of the changes a little bit more. I thought it may be helpful to post it on the forum:

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Hello,

I just wanted to drop you an email regarding the changes made to the Australian Migration process today by the Australian Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. Two changes have been announced;

The first is a cut in the total number of places available to the Australian Migration program from 133 500 down to 115 000. This will take effect immediately.
The Critical Skills List will change. This does not effect an application's points break down; it simply affects the priority processing of applications.

Total Number of Places Available
The reduction represents 14% of the total. However, to put this in perspective, the 2008/09 intake of approx. 133 500 was the largest intake the Australian Government had ever announced. The year before, the total intake of skilled migrants was approx. 108 540 under the skilled stream so the new current total of 115 000 still represents an increase in migrants compared to the previous yearly intake. In addition, it may be helpful to point out, that quotas do not affect someone's eligibility to apply for a visa and, as yet, these proposed changes have not affected any points calculation or eligibility to apply. They will however affect the amount of time an application requires to process.

Critical Skills List
In December 2008, the Minister announced that a new way of prioritising applications would take effect. The highest priority was given to people who had job offers in Australia and people who had successfully received sponsorship from a State or Territory. The second level of priority was given to people who occupations were on the Critical Skills List (which is different from the Occupation in Demand List). The Critical Skills List included many occupations including Health, IT and construction trades. It is this list which is being revised.

Here is a link to the new list:
http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/gener...kills-list.pdf.

Most of the construction occupations have been removed. The result of this is not to affect the eligibility of an application, however it will affect the processing times of applications whose occupations are not on the CSL and who have not obtained State or Territory sponsorship.

In short, the changes announced today are likely to result in a longer wait for a visa for most applicants. At present it is difficult to say exactly how long as it will vary considerably depending on your precise circumstances. For applicants who have lodged applications already, please do not hesitate to contact me directly regarding these changes. For applicants who have not yet lodged, as always, we advise you to please provide us with the documents we need to lodge your application as soon as possible so that we secure your position within the Department of Immigration.

Finally, we note that some aspects of the media's reporting of this issue (and in fact the Minister's own website) contains inaccuracies about processing priorities of the Australian Migration Program. We would ask that you do not hesitate to contact us directly for information about Australia's skilled migration program at this time.

We will let you know as soon as we have any further information about these and any future proposed changes.

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Cheers,
Veronika