Great news - employment remains strong
Important update on Parent Visas |
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24 June, 2009
LIVE IN australia.com prides itself on keeping our valued clients up-to-date with any developments, changes or updates to Australian immigration law.
If you have been considering, or are in the process of, applying for a Parent Visa, here is an important update.
Several changes will be introduced to Parent Category visas on 1 July 2009. These changes include the ability to change the sponsor of all Parent Category visas at any time prior to a decision being made. Furthermore, the Balance of Family test will become a time of application requirement.
Those granted a permanent Contributory Parent category visa (subclasses 143 and 864), on or after 1 July 2009, will be prevented from sponsoring their fiancé, de facto or spouse for a Partner or Prospective Marriage visa for five years from the day their visa was granted, if they were in a relationship on or before the day their visa was granted.
If you have any further questions about this, we would love to help. Please contact a registered LIVE IN australia.com advisor.
- LIVE IN australia.com
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NZ net migration climbs to near six-year high |
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23 June, 2009
June 22 – New Zealand net migration increased to its strongest rate in nearly six years in May, stoking optimism the influx will start to underpin demand in the domestic economy.
Seasonally adjusted, a net 2,690 migrants arrived in May, the most since July 2003 when 2,800 permanent and long-term visitors arrived, according to Statistics New Zealand. Short-term visitors increased 1% to 141,900 from a year ago as an extra 9,200 Australian visitors offset the 8,600 fewer tourists from Korea, China, and Japan.
“The longer net migration persists around these levels, the more optimistic we become on prospects for the domestic economy,” said Bernard Doyle, New Zealand strategist at Goldman Sachs JBWere. “Net migration was one of the key drivers behind the 2003-2007 economic upswing, and was particularly important for the construction sector.”
Strong immigration may have helped lift demand for housing at a time when the weak economy has sapped issuance of building consents. Central bank Governor Alan Bollard this month warned the economy faces risks if signs of stabilization in the housing market are taken as a sign of another boom, spurring another cycle of “borrow and spend up large.”
“The gain in migration represents a tangible positive ingredient for underlying housing demand, reinforcing the improvement in affordability resulting from lower mortgage rates and falling house prices,” said Robin Clements, economist at USB New Zealand. “With clear evidence of housing activity turning up, the drag that housing has placed on gross domestic product growth is set to fade in the second half.”
In May, the total number of properties sold rose to 6,291, from 4,372 in the same month of 2008, according to the Real Estate Institute.
Fletcher Building Ltd., the largest listed construction company, gained 2.6% to NZ$6.70 today, and has advanced some 14% this year as investors bet on an upswing in the property market.
Prime Minister John Key said the more than one million Australians who visited New Zealand in May was a record, and showed New Zealand tourism is open to its closest neighbour, despite the global economic slump.
“Tourism New Zealand has seen increased awareness of New Zealand in Australia in recent months and highly competitive airfares, good seat capacity, and a favourable exchange rate are all working in our favour,” Key said in a statement.
Australia is being targeted by a NZ$5 million marketing campaign between the government and Air New Zealand Ltd., which Key has estimated may generate NZ$65 million of economic benefits.
Shares in the national carrier gained 1.1% to 91 N.Z. cents today, and have declined 6.3% in the year-to-date as rising fuel costs and fears of a worldwide influenza pandemic weigh on international tourism. Auckland International Airport Ltd. was unchanged at NZ$1.57, while campervan operator Tourism Holdings Ltd., which will be removed from the NZX 50 index next month, slipped 2% to 48 cents today, and has slumped 27% this year.
China, another market targeted by the Prime Minister, has been less resilient, with visitors falling in nine of the past 12 months.
- Paul McBeth, business.scoop
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Australian visa application fees to increase |
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23 June, 2009
On July 1 2009, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship will be increasing visa application fees by as much as 20%.
For example:
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Current visa application fees |
New visa application fees from July 1 |
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Skilled Independent |
$AU2,105 |
$AU2,525 |
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Business Owner (provisional) |
$AU2,800 |
$AU3,360 |
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Partner (offshore) |
$AU1,705 |
$AU1,420 |
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Parent (offshore) |
$AU1,705 |
$AU1,420 |
For further details about this, or any other aspect of immigration law, please contact a
LIVE IN australia.com advisor today.
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G'day Mate! Australia’s Demographics Point to Growing Economy |
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22 June, 2009
Australia's birth chart represents one of the strongest demographic landscapes in the emerging or developed world. This will be of no surprise to any sports fan who has watched Australia (with a meager population of about 20 million) dominate the world stage in swimming, cricket, rugby and tennis, among other sports. Australia's Age Curve suggests that its sports domination could continue for some time.
This domination in sports could be echoed in the economic arena, as it is favorably positioned to weather the current global downturn and take advantage of the recovery. Australian banks are in far better shape than most of its European and U.S. rivals and the country is experiencing about the shallowest downturn of all western economies.
While many investors are well versed in the country’s reserves of coal, iron-ore and gold, the strength of its agricultural base is often overlooked. This pillar of its export economy has been in the doldrums for several years as it suffered from a series of El Nino-driven droughts. We believes that because its weather patterns are forecast to move into a “La Nina” influenced cold cycle, Australian (and New Zealand) agriculture will return to the more favorable conditions experienced in the 1940s, 50s and 60s. This should prove timely as long-term agricultural prices are being driven higher due to less fertile land, water shortages and growing food demand.
Australia’s economy is in far better shape than almost all of its developed rivals and should benefit from any rebound in China. In 2009 recovering commodity prices should support the Australian dollar and could bring it back to parity against the U.S. dollar within the next two years. Longer term, sound demographics and the four export pillars of the country–agriculture, coal, iron-ore and gold–should continue to support a growing economy.
It is also worth noting that the 130,000 or so immigrants that enter the country each year also provide a boost to Australia’s economy, especially since the country’s immigration system is geared toward attracting highly skilled and educated immigrants.
Australia’s primary ETF, IShares MSCI Australia Index (EWA) has rallied about 50 percent since hitting the March lows, but we believe that the country’s strong demographics, solid banking system, and good stocks of commodities should support the EWA’s rise back into the mid- to upper-$20 range by the end of the summer, if not sooner. EWA crossed its 200-day moving average of $16 back in early May. We believe this is a positive signal that the market is confirming our positive outlook for Australia.
Our stance is a simple one in which we want to be overweight in those overseas markets that are showing relative strength and moving above their 200-day moving averages, but avoid those that are below. In short, we like to make the trend our friend.
- Beacon Asset Managers' Instablog
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Australia assures full safety to Indian students |
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22 June, 2009
Assuring full safety to Indian students in Australia, the country's immigration authority has asked the community members to help police in catching those involved in attacks on them, saying such crimes are 'unacceptable'.
Australian Immigration Minister Chris Evans, who met representatives from Indian community to hear their concerns about the incidents of violence, assured them that the Australian government will ensure their full safety.
"Such attacks will not be tolerated and the Rudd government has joined community leaders in condemning these crimes," Evans said.
"Steps have already been taken to increase protection for the student community including increased police operations and public safety information sessions," he added.
"Criminal behaviour is unacceptable in Australia. The Australian Government is encouraging the Indian community, including international students, to remain calm and work with the Victoria and New South Wales Police to catch the people responsible for these crimes," the minister said in a statement released here.
Evans assured Indian students that reporting of crime incidents to police will not affect their visa status and said Australians have been shocked and appalled by the reports of violence against international students.
- Hindustan Times
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New bid to lure skilled workers |
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17 June, 2009
ANOTHER trip will be made to the United Kingdom to lure skilled workers to south-west Victoria, despite the economic downturn thwarting a similar effort last year.
This time, recruiters will mainly focus on health professionals rather than industry trades.
Warrnambool's Phil Hoggan compiled a list of critical skills vacancies to take to Manchester and London expos and was keen to hear from south-west employers.
He and other delegates from Shepparton, Geelong and Swan Hill will leave today for the UK in a bid to fill job vacancies in 11 Victorian regions.
They will take a list of almost 300 jobs.
Mr Hoggan, the Skills for Growth project manager, attended a trades expo in Leeds last year with a list of about 80 trades skills vacancies.
He received enthusiastic inquiries from prospective employees, but hopes were soon dashed by the economic downturn.
"It was OK when I left Warrnambool in October, but by November the recession started to bite," he said.
"Companies like Alcoa put a freeze on recruitment."
He has higher hopes for the new vacancies list which includes GPs, dentists, radiographers and psychiatrists.
"They must be proven skills shortages identified after attempts to fill them in Australia have been unsuccessful," Mr Hoggan said.
- Peter Collins, The Standard
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Protect overseas students |
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16 June, 2009
IN a globalised world, the movement of products is matched only by the movement of people -- to work and conduct business, and to travel for holidays or study.
Everyone has a fundamental right to do so in the expectation the society in which they are living will protect their safety, regardless of their status, race or creed. Notwithstanding the negative impacts globalisation may sometimes have, Australia has certainly benefited when it comes to attracting international students to our universities.
The overseas students industry was reportedly worth about $15.5billion last year and plays a significant role in providing financial support for our embattled tertiary education system.
The recent controversy over attacks on international students in Sydney and Melbourne has major implications for the ICT sector, which is one of the most popular fields of study for students from India and China.
According to Australian Education International, there were more than 430,000 international students in Australia last year, including about 97,000 Chinese and more than 75,000 Indian students, of whom a significant percentage were engaged in ICT-related courses.
It is important to recognise the role overseas students play in boosting the supply of locally trained graduates to meet the needs of business and industry. Despite our current economic conditions and outlook, clear evidence remains that Australia faces continued and growing shortages in key ICT skills in the short to medium term.
We must continue to protect and build our brand as a safe and quality provider of tertiary education for students from any country. These young people are not only important to growing education sector, but their active presence at our universities helps Australian students gain a more global perspective, which is so important in disciplines such as ICT. The Australian Computer Society welcomes the government's response in recognising the importance of these students, both as visitors deserving of protection and as clients who are part of a critical and growing education sector.
Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Julia Gillard has stressed the opportunistic nature of the attacks, saying that most occurred late at night, often on public transport, and appeared to be motivated by theft.
It is an unfortunate fact that international travellers the world over become obvious targets for criminal elements seeking to take advantage of their lack of familiarity with their environment.
Ms Gillard has affirmed the government's commitment to providing a safe environment for international students, stressing that attacks on students will not be tolerated, particularly if they are racially motivated.
The ACS congratulates Universities Australia, which moved swiftly to consult on the issue and has adopted a 10-point action plan for student safety.
The plan came out of a meeting earlier this month of deputy and pro vice-chancellors from Australian universities with members of Canberra's diplomatic community including the Indian high commissioner to Australia, Sujatha Singh. UA chief executive Glenn Withers said the organisation had "unreservedly condemned" the recent attacks involving international students and "affirmed the crucial importance of international integration through education".
"Universities believe that the situation requires a national response and close co-operation between all education providers and the commonwealth government, state authorities, foreign governments and their diplomatic representatives and other partners, to find solutions which will enhance the total educational experience including ensuring the present and future safety of all students," Dr Withers said.
The UA plan includes recommendations for: Travel concessions to help safeguard students while on public transport; Strategies to reinforce and enhance integration between students of different nationalities and backgrounds on our campuses and in our communities; Enhancements to campus-based student support programs in health, childcare, counselling and employment services; and expanded safety programs and closer ties to local authorities and support agencies.
The ACS is pleased to see both the federal government and UA are putting into place strategies to stem the violence. We offer our advice and support, as appropriate, to help achieve a successful outcome for ICT students and their families, our local communities and economy.
- Kumar Parakala, Australian IT
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New tools to help foreign students |
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15 June, 2009
Territory, state and federal education ministers have agreed to set up a taskforce, telephone hotline and guidebook to help protect the interests of overseas students studying in Australia.
The move follows recent attacks in Sydney and Melbourne on Indian students which have led to mass protests and threaten Australia's highly lucrative international student market.
At an education ministerial council in Hobart yesterday, Federal Education Minister Julia Gillard agreed to set up a new International Student Taskforce to safeguard students' welfare.
It will work with the special taskforce set up last week and headed by the Prime Minister's national security adviser to coordinate Australia's response to the violence against Indian students.
''Ministers have joined together to unreservedly condemn the violent incidents and problems that international students have experienced in Australia in recent times,'' Ms Gillard said after yesterday's meeting.
''We want international students to come to this country and be safe and happy here.''
ACT Education Minister Andrew Barr said it was critical overseas students continued to see Australia and Canberra as their first choice for education.
''International students are welcome in Canberra, but violence against any student is not,'' Mr Barr said.
''The ACT is a world leader in international education and as such international students are important to our community, our education system and our economy.''
The new taskforce will involve representatives from the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations as well as the states and territories, and would work closely with the other taskforce, which includes representatives from the Departments of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Immigration and Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Ms Gillard also announced a 24-hour hotline 1300363079 which will enable students to anonymously raise concerns. Concerns will be collated and published on the www.studyinaustralia.gov.au website. The hotline aims to counter student fears that making a formal complaint could affect their study visas.
All incoming foreign students would be given more comprehensive information, including a copy of the Federal Government's Guide to studying and living in Australia which is provided once they obtain a visa to study in Australia.
Ministers also agreed to ask the joint committee on international education to consider how to better ensure overseas education agents are reputable and responsible in the advice they provide.
- The Canberra Times
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Australia is still open for business |
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15 June, 2009
Despite the current financial troubles plaguing the world, the Australian government continues to welcome business migrants who want to move to Australia to establish and operate a new business or purchase and operate an existing business.
Migration opportunities also exist for people who wish to invest in Government bonds. Australia's states and territories are competing in a bid to sponsor business people from around the world in an effort to attract investment and suitable migrants to their cities and towns. At the same time the Australian government has been at pains to stress the importance it places on small business in Australia and has rewarded the sector with significant tax relief. On March 28 2009, the Australian government announced more than AUD720 million (SLR 23 billion) of cash-flow relief and further initiatives to support small business are expected in the May budget.
Although the business world has been pessimistic about the impact of the global financial crisis, Australia has been better positioned than most countries to weather the storm. A survey conducted by the Small Business Development Corporation of small business sentiment in Western Australia has found that "there is more optimism within the small business sector than media reports would have us believe", SBDC Managing Director Mr Stephen Moir said when the survey was released. This may make it a good time for potential business migrants to consider a move to Australia.
Many business people from around the world have already taken advantage of the opportunities offered under Australia's business migration programme. A total of 6565 business visas were granted in 2008, a 12.5% increase on the 2007 figure. This is about equal to the number of business visas that can be granted before July 2009 under the recently announced cap. New business visa applications are still being accepted and processed as normal and no limits have been announced for 2010. It is not clear what effect the global downturn will have on demand for these visas and whether the caps for 2009 will have an effect on processing times in the future. There would appear to be little reason for the Australian Government to place significant limits on the number of business visas in the future - business migrants create job opportunities in Australia rather than reduce them.
Historically the Australian business visa programme has attracted mostly small to medium business people who are seeking better opportunities for themselves and their families in Australia. In recent years the program has attracted many applicants from countries such as the PRC, Indonesia and South Africa where there has been some political or economic instability and concern for the future.
Australia's business visa program is targeted at small business owners and senior managers who have a proven track-record of successful business in their country and who have accumulated wealth through their entrepreneurship, which can be invested in Australia. Successful business applicants need to show that their business has recorded sales of more than AUD$300,000 (LSR 27,000,000) in at least two of the past four fiscal years or that they are a senior manager in a significant business, and that they have at least AUD$250,000 (LSR 22,000,000) in personal and business assets which they are willing and able to transfer to Australia. Business migrants who are over 45 or who do not have a good command of English must be sponsored by a state or territory of Australia.
Despite the global downturn, there are good business opportunities in Australia in many sectors and Australia remains very much open for business. In order to encourage business migrants to establish themselves in their area, some Australian states and territories, including Western Australia, offer incentives and assistance packages to qualifying new migrants and small business owners. Many states and territories offer discounted education for children of business migrants.
A successful business visa applicant will first be granted a temporary visa for four years within which time they must relocate themselves and their families to Australia and establish their business in the sponsoring state. Provided the relevant requirements are satisfied during this time, the person can apply for a permanent visa allowing them and their family to remain in Australia indefinitely. After a time, business visa holder can apply for Australian Citizenship should they want Australian nationality.
If you are thinking about migrating to Australia, the time might be now!
- The Sunday Times
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Great news - employment remains strong |
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12 June, 2009
Here's not the labour force headline story: Australia's level of employment remained remarkably strong last month with the global recession having barely any impact on the number of Australians in work.
For nearly every job that was lost in the economy, another was created. The Australian Bureau of Statistics trend series numbers show just 1200 net jobs were lost out of a 10,789,300, a bare 0.01 per cent - statistically meaningless. And it's the same story using the seasonally adjusted figuring.
Compared with the boom time of May last year - back when the biggest problem facing that month's federal budget was a shortage of labour causing inflation - the number of employed persons is up 0.1 per cent on the trend numbers and by 0.3 per cent seasonally adjusted. Did you get that? Employment is up.
And with the average Australian enjoying greater disposable income thanks to sharply lower interest rates, gifts from Kevin Rudd, tax cuts and cheaper petrol, the spending power of the Australian workforce has never been greater.
Meanwhile, back at the labour force headlines, the unemployment rate ticked up to 5.7 per cent thanks primarily to the growth of the workforce - the natural increase plus the record level of immigration.
High immigration remains necessary thanks to successive state and federal governments under-investing in education and training, leaving a large pool of Australians incapable of doing the jobs that are available.
The statisticians quietly revised away much of the difference between the trend and seasonal figures for this month, lifting without comment the April trend series unemployment rate from the previously-published 5.5 per cent to 5.6 and the seasonally adjusted number from 5.4 to 5.5 per cent. Both methods scored 5.7 per cent for May.
Using these revised less volatile trend numbers, unemployment crept up just one more notch last month. The labour force is holding up remarkably well on any sort of international scale.
And on any reasonable local scale as well. Unemployment is a lagging indicator, but in the middle of this recession, we have a 5.7 per cent unemployment rate compared with unemployment of more than 6 per cent before the last recession.
To provide further perspective, the multi-generational lows in the unemployment rate of around 4 per cent was effectively full employment in much of the country - just about anyone physically, socially and mentally capable who really wanted a job could get one.
It's tempting then to suggest that our real unemployment rate is only around 2 per cent - but that undersells the marked impact the recession is having on our level of underemployment - the number of people who would like to work more hours than are presently available.
Combined the underemployed with the unemployed and you get the underutilisation rate - in some ways a better overall guide to the relative health of the labor market and the availability of labour.
The underutilisation rate stands at 13.4 per cent, up from a multi-generational low of 10 per cent this time last year, but not far off the average for the past decade.
There are lies, damned lies and statistics, but the glass is actually a lot more than half full.
- Michael Pascoe, SMH
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