Australia Migration News Update
- Changes to VETASSESS assessment requirements for General Occupations from 1 January 2010
- Stronger Measures for the Protection of Children
- Changes to Medical 'Re-Use' Policy to Prevent Processing Delays
- Changes to lodgement and processing arrangements for Occupational Trainee visas
- Important Information Regarding Sponsored Family Visitor (Subclass 679) Visa Applications for the Christmas Holiday Season 2009
- Update to Student eVisa Lodgement for Assessment Levels 2-4
- Temporary Business (Long Stay) - Standard Business Sponsorship (Subclass 457)
- Outcome of Full Federal Court case - Minister for Immigration and Citizenship vs Kamal [2009] FCAFC 98
- New priority processing directions for certain skilled migration visas
- Frequently Asked Questions – Temporary residence visas (excluding subclass 457) and the impact of the Migration Legislation Amen
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Immigration and Australian politics
Both major Australian political parties favour a relatively high level of immigration. When John Howard became Prime Minister, net migration was rising, and the upward trend in the number of immigrants increased over the decade from when he took office in 1996. According to Banham, Australian political leaders who support higher immigration include Amanda Vanstone, John Howard, Peter Costello, Kim Beazley, and Steve Bracks, with vocal opposition to immigration coming from former New South Wales premier Bob Carr who cites environmental reasons for his opposition.[62] Peter Costello believes that high population growth in Australia is important for economic growth.[63]
Commentators such as Ross Gittins, a columnist at Fairfax Media accused former Prime Minister John Howard of deception, by appearing "tough" on illegal immigration to win support from the working class while simultaneously winning support from employers with high legal immigration.[64]
In 2006, the Labor Party under Kim Beazley took a stance against the importation of increasingly large numbers of temporary migrant workers ("foreign workers") by employers, arguing that this is simply a way for employers to drive down wages.[65] At the same time, it is estimated that a million Australians are employed outside Australia.[66]
According to a 2007 Liberal Party document titled Immigration - Its Role in Our Future, the Coalition's immigration policy is "free from discrimination based on race, religion, gender, nationality or country of origin."[67][68] After blocking African migrants, the document was taken down from the Liberal Party's main website.
An anti-immigration party, the One Nation Party, was formed by Pauline Hanson in the late 1990s. The party enjoyed significant electoral success for a while, most notably in its home state of Queensland, but is now electorally marginalised. One Nation argued for a zero net immigration policy, asserting that "environmentally Australia is near her carrying capacity, economically immigration is unsustainable and socially, if continued as is, will lead to an ethnically divided Australia."[69]
The Labor Party's creation of mandatory detention, especially regarding the impact upon children, has come under criticism from a range of religious, community and political groups including the National Council of Churches, Amnesty International, Australian Democrats, Australian Greens and Rural Australians for Refugees.
Announced by the Kevin Rudd federal Labor government in July 2008, Mandatory detention in Australia will cease, unless the person claiming asylum is deemed to pose a risk to the wider community, such as those who have repeatedly breached their visa conditions or those who have security or health risks.[70]
Source: Immigration to Australia Wiki