At this point in time there is a ceiling of 133,500 immigration visas per year which includes both the skilled migration program and general applications. However, as a consequence of the current economic situation around the world and in Australia in particular the Australian government has recently tightened the criteria for migration into the country with the balance in favour of skilled workers who are needed by companies in the country.
What is the benefit of tightening the criteria now?
Like all developed countries around the world there has been a significant increase in unemployment throughout Australia as the worldwide economic slowdown continues to impact on many individual countries. There is now a need to ensure that Australian nationals are given the opportunity to take up new employment positions where possible without having to compete against those from foreign lands.
However, by tightening the criteria for skilled workers to be fast tracked through the immigration system the Australian government is ensuring that the economy is as well-positioned as it can be when the recovery finally comes. This mixture of ensuring Australian nationals have access to new employment positions while also allowing overseas visitors to take up positions which cannot be filled naturally is the best case scenario for the Australian economy.
Has Australia always had a skilled workers immigration policy?
The truth is that Australia has for many years fast tracked those applications from workers who offer specific skills and specific experience which may be lacking in the Australian economy. However, the last couple of years have seen a number of employers complain that many skilled workers were being placed in the ever-growing queue of those looking to move to Australia and the Australian economy was losing out. This is the reason why the criteria has been tightened and those who apply for employer-sponsored visas are in an even better position for a successful result.
Is it right to sort immigration applications on skills?
When you consider that the current Australian population are the ones who have paid taxes for years and continue to finance the economy it makes sense that they should have first refusal on employment positions they may be able to cover and have the necessary skills. There is little point in allowing those from foreign lands with no defining skills which they can put into the economy to enter Australia at the expense of those who can “pay their way”.
The more general immigrants who visit Australia with nothing to offer and limited employment opportunities the greater the pressure on the country’s social services and public services to the detriment of natural Australians. Whether this is illegal or morally correct is debatable and opens the argument as to whether any country in the world should be able to pick and choose who enters the country and on what terms.
