In: Economics
If the goal of Australian policy is to have a positive impact on the government’s budget, what type of immigration policy should it encourage? Why might some developing countries feel that they would be harmed by this type of Australian immigration policy?
It should encourage a skilled migration program
Since the 1980s, the government has developed policies designed to target migrants with experience in areas where there is a skill shortfall through its general skilled migration program. In 2004 05 record numbers of skilled migrants were granted visas, accounting for about 60 per cent of the entire migration program.
The current skills in demand are listed in DIMA s Skilled Occupation List (SKOL). Generally an applicant must be under 45, with an occupation listed on the SKOL, with enough points to pass the points test and with a fairly proficient level of English.
Under the skilled or independent migrant selection system, the Migration Occupations in Demand (MODL) List identifies occupations to be allocated extra points under the points test. IT skills featured strongly in the past (they were dropped off the list in 2003), and now health professionals and tradespeople are currently in demand. The current skills points listshows occupations acceptable for permanent migration and the number of points allocated to these occupations.
There are a variety of relevant visas that potential migrants can apply for under the skilled migration program, depending on whether you are applying for an onshore visa, an offshore visa or for a skilled visa as a New Zealand resident. There are also specific requirements to encourage successful business people to settle permanently in Australia and develop new or existing businesses.
In order to encourage skilled migration to the regions where skill shortages are particularly acute, the government has created state and territory specific migration schemes that include the Skilled Independent Regional (Provisional) (SIR) Visa, the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme and the State and Territory Nominated Independent Scheme. In 2004 05 18 700 visas were granted under the state-specific and regional migration schemes an increase on the 12 720 visas granted the previous financial year