The Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs’ webpage displays the following message: Thursday, 30 May 2019 Statement on appointment as Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs. It was an honour to be sworn in yesterday by the Governor General as Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs. Australia’s story is one of immigration. We welcome people to this country based on what they can contribute – regardless of race, religion, or cultural background. We celebrate the success of migrants from all corners of the globe. Migrant success stories define our nation. The small business person who takes a chance, works hard, and employs dozens of Australians. The professional who uses their skills to help grow our economy. The religious leader who provides spiritual guidance to their community. The married couple who make huge sacrifices so that their kids can have opportunities that were not available to them. These are the stories of Australia – in every town and suburb. Our Government will continue to run an orderly, non-discriminatory immigration programme that is focused squarely on our national interests. We will maintain a strong emphasis on the economic benefits of migration, filling gaps in skilled employment to help grow the economy. We will continue to progress initiatives that better match our immigration programmes to the differing needs across our regions. We will implement our reduced cap on permanent migration to take pressure off our cities, while offering more opportunities for skilled migration in regional Australia. We will continue to run a significant humanitarian programme, and ensure that it is always managed in Australia’s national interest. We will manage our temporary migration programmes to maximise their job-creating benefits for Australians. To be an Australian citizen is an immense privilege. In our citizenship activities, we will continue to emphasise the rights – and obligations – that come with being an Australian. We will honour the heritage of our citizenship and ensure that the next generation of citizens are fully cognisant of what it means to be an Australia. I am pleased to take on the additional responsibility of Minister for Migrant Services. These services are about assisting new migrants to become fully integrated into Australian society. We will back migrants who want to work hard, play by the rules and contribute to the growth of our nation. The key outcome we will be focused on in Migrant Services is employment. In integrating into Australian life, there is nothing more important than getting a job. Our multicultural society is one of our greatest strengths as a nation. We will build on it. We will work with community leaders to increase social cohesion, and protect our multicultural heritage. We are the most successful migrant nation in the world, and embedded in that success is our respect for the diverse cultural heritage of Australians. I look forward to progressing on these initiatives as part of the Morrison Government.
Mckkrs strongly urge individuals seeking positive migration outcomes to employ the services of a reputable and established Australian migration agent. We can provide advice on all aspects of the migration process. The Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority can assist in providing advice on migration agent compliance and registration. At least 50 immigrants paid a south-east Queensland man more than $100,000 in many cases for fake companies to sponsor them in their attempts to gain skilled work visas. Raids on two homes earlier this month in Logan, south of Brisbane, allegedly uncovered evidence, including visa application documents and electronic devices, supporting the allegations. A man was expected to front Brisbane Magistrate’s Court on June 7 on seven charges of submitting false information to the Department of Home Affairs following the joint Australian Border Force and Australia Federal Police operation. It will be alleged at least 50 potential applicants were charged significant amounts, in many cases well over $100,000, in exchange for visa sponsorship. It will also be alleged the man engaged with complicit Registered Migration Agents to lodge applications with the DHA, sponsoring individuals for positions in businesses that did not exist. ABF investigations commander Graeme Grosse said the investigation launched in 2017. “The ABF has been closely investigating this matter for some time. We believe that one individual has been arranging the submission of false visa nominations and applications for various skilled visas sub-classes,” he said. “The ABF is alert to attempts to circumvent the integrity of Australia’s migration and visa system. We investigate all allegations of visa fraud, and actively monitor the visa grant process in order to detect improper conduct. “We will not tolerate attempts to engage in fraudulent activity, and the Australian community can feel confident that we are doing everything possible to bring the full force of the law against anyone engaging in this type of unlawful activity and to maintain the integrity of the visa system.” Two homes in Daisy Hill and Logan Village were raided on May 15 and the seized evidence was being closely examined ahead of more potential charges against other people. The offence was punishable by a two-year prison sentence and/or a fine of $75,600 per charge. If more serious charges were laid, they could attract up to 10 years in prison per offence. Source: https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/migrants-paid-100-000-for-fake-companies-to-support-their-visa-applications-20190529-p51s7s.html
Young Australians will more easily be able to holiday, work and study in Greece with reciprocal #Work and Holiday arrangements set to commence on 1 July 2019. Five hundred places each will be available annually for young Australians and Greeks to visit each other’s country for up to twelve months. While on their first visa, Greek nationals may undertake specified work in regional areas to become eligible for a second #Work and Holiday visa and extend their stay. The option of a third year stay will also be available to them if they undertake six months of regional work in their second year in Australia. The Work and Holiday visa requires first-time Greek applicants to hold or be studying towards tertiary qualifications and to have a functional level of English. The commencement of the arrangement with Greece will take the number of countries participating in the #Working Holiday Maker program to 43.
Australia has topped the list as the number one destination worldwide for migrating millionaires. According to the latest Global Wealth Migration Review from market research consultancy New World Wealth, 12,000 #Special Category Migrants, or those classed as High-Net Wealth Individuals (HNWIs) made their way to Australian shores in 2018 alone. It is the fourth consecutive year that Australia has ranked first on the global list, adding more than 35,000 wealthy new residents over that time. Australia landed ahead of the US on the global list, with far greater inflows than the third and fourth-ranked destinations of Canada and Switzerland, with a respective 4,000 and 3,000 wealthy individuals added. In terms of outflows, the largest high wealth exodus was from China, with 15,000 HNWI departing, while Russia, India and Turkey saw the departure of upwards of 4,000 HNWIs each. Australia has added 3 percent to its HNWI tally. New World Wealth cites several potential factors for Australia as a preferred destination. Among these are Australia’s safety rating. Australia is named the number one country for women in a separate New World Wealth report. In addition, the nation’s first-class healthcare system is far cheaper and more accessible compared to American health care. Also noted is the absence of an inheritance tax in Australia. Individuals with wealth of over $5.5 million in the US are subject to an ‘estate’ tax at rates of as much as 40 percent in the top bracket. Australia is therefore an attractive base from which to continue building wealth for future generations. Altogether, the report records the number of HNWIs now living in Australia at nearly 370,000 (the seventh-most of any nation), with 35 of those assessed as billionaires among the 2,140 worldwide. The complete New World Wealth Report is available here: https://www.afrasiabank.com/en/about/newsroom/global-wealth-migration-review-2019
As per latest data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the Indian population in Australia has grown significantly in the last two years. ABS data estimates that there are 592,000 Indians living in Australia as of June 2018. This is a 30 per cent increase compared to 2016 ABS Census figures which recorded 455,389 Indians living in Australia. India moved into third place of Australia’s total migrant population overtaking the number of New Zealand migrants and moving New Zealand to fourth place. India accounts for 2.4% of the Australian population and the median age of an Indian migrant is revealed to be 34 years, the same as those born in Australia. There were 162,417 Permanent Residence Visas granted in 2017-18 by the Department of Home Affairs. About 33,310 out of these were granted to Indians. In 2016-17, 38,854 out of 183,608 Permanent Resident visas were granted to Indians. The number of Indian students studying in Australia reached a seven-year high in 2018. According to November 2017 figures, close to 70,000 students were studying in Australian universities and colleges. ABS identify the Australian population by country of birth for 2018 as follows: Country of birth Total number Percentage (proportion of total population in Australia) England 992,000 4.0% China 651,000 2.6% India 592,000 2.4% New Zealand 568,000 2.3% Philippines 278,000 1.1% Vietnam 256,000 1.0% South Africa 189,000 0.8% Italy 187,000 0.7% Malaysia 174,000 0.7% Scotland 135,000 0.5%
The following updated information on the Skilled Migration Invitation Round in the ACT has been published on the Canberra Your Future website: Canberra Matrix – Invitation round Invitation date: 24 May 2019 Number of Invitations Issued: 323 Matrix score range: All Matrix submitted with 135 to 70 points 65 point matrix submitted on or before 30 April 2019
Do not risk it! To order training for Training Benchmark B and get an Auditable Training Plan for FREE, click here. Please note that: training Benchmarks still apply to all sc#457 Sponsors who have or had sc457 visa holders working for them. the #Skilling Australia Fund (#SAF) Levy applies to only new nominations made after 12th August 2018 on sc#482, sc#186 and sc#187 visas. Sc457 sponsor companies who wish to nominate workers on sc482 and sc186/ 187 visas will need to provide evidence of having met their #Training Benchmark obligations. Please also note that sc482 Sponsors who had nominated workers after the implementation of sc482 but before the implementation of SAF on 12th August 2018 will also need to meet their Training Benchmark obligations. At McKkr’s we may help if your clients are short of meeting Training Benchmark obligations. We are not only providing FREE #Auditable Training Plans for the current periods and any missed periods but also FREE Submission to support the nomination applications for sc186 and sc187 visas. In relation to Training Benchmarks, there have been several questions from RMAs, and our response to these questions are: Q1: For sc457 sponsors, do they need to continue fulfilling the Training Benchmark obligations if they are still employing 457 visa holders. What if the 457 visa holder has lodged the 186TRT after 12 August 2018. How long do they need to continue this obligation? Response: Until the sc186 visa is granted, because until then the worker would be working while holding sc457 visa or a bridging visa. Please note that SAF levy paid for sc186/ 187 visa is a one-off levy for sc186/ 187 visa and has nothing to do with sc457 sponsorship obligations. Q2: Is it sufficient if the sc457 sponsors fulfil the Training Benchmark obligations for the completed sponsorship years prior to 12 August 2018 and discontinued this obligation? Response: Training Benchmark obligations will continue to apply as long as the sponsors have at least one sc457 visa holder working for them for whom the SAF levy has not been paid either for 482 or 186/ 187 visas. Q3: For those 186-TRT lodged, with sponsors only fulfilling the Training Benchmark obligations for the completed sponsorship years prior to 12 August 2018, they would have missed out the Training Benchmark obligations for the current sponsorship year. How could this be remedied? Response: At McKkr’s, we are helping RMAs in preparing a tailored submission to the Department of Home Affairs, FOR FREE, if we are the provider of Training Benchmark B for a sponsor OR if we are hired now to write Auditable Training Plan and deliver training for the current or missed year(s). For any further queries, please feel free to cal us on 02-4626 1002. Do not forget that McKkr’s training delivery is valid for Training Benchmark B and McKkr’s is a leading Training Benchmark B provider in the country having delivered thousands of trainings under Training Benchmark B with 100% success.
The Australian Liberal Coalition Federal Government, headed by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, has been re-elected. In terms of implications for the #Australian immigration program, we would expect permanent migration numbers to remain relatively low with the caps on migration programs reduced. The composition of the Australian immigration program will be maintained at about 70 per cent in the #Skilled Migration stream and 30 per cent in the Family stream. Over the next three years of this Government, the focus will be on regional growth and skilled migration. There will be expected stronger incentives for new people to Australia to settle outside the major cities in areas that will welcome their skills and expertise. Possibly 23,000 places each year will be set aside for #regional visas. Some of these policy changes have already commenced and others will be announced over the coming months. These include: Skilled migrants to be priority processed and afforded access to a larger pool of jobs on the eligible #occupation lists compared to those who live in major cities. Provision of incentives for #international students to study at university regional campuses under a ‘#Destination Australia’ program. Provision of an additional one year #Temporary Graduate visa for international students who have completed their studies at a regional campus of a university to ensure they can continue to live and work in regional Australia for longer. Greater flexibility for work and holiday makers including a third year option, given certain requirements are met, to resolve labour shortages in regional areas. #Work and Holiday and #Working Holiday Agreements between Australia and other countries not yet included in the program to be implemented, to allow more young adults from those countries to apply for Work and Holiday and Working Holiday visas. Increase in the proportion of migrants who are sponsored by Australian businesses. Increase in the number of state-territory nominated places. Additional five year #Designated Area Migration Agreements, which should assist employers experiencing skill shortages and sponsor skilled workers. Launch of a new #Global Talent – Independent program aimed at attracting the very best talent from around the world. Introduction of a dedicated #Accelerator Support Program to assist first generation migrants looking to develop a start-up business. Tailored #Aged Care Labour Agreements to support migrant communities to allow aged care providers to hire overseas workers with specialised skills who will support older Australians from multicultural backgrounds. We will provide details on these and other proposed changes to the Australian Immigration program over the coming months. Please contact us for more information.
Liberal Gladys Liu has become the first Chinese-Australian woman to sit in Federal Parliament's Lower House after notching a victory in the 2019 Federal Election in the suburban Melbourne seat of Chisholm. Ms Liu, a prominent voice in the Chinese community in Victoria, was born in Hong Kong and moved to Melbourne in 1985 to study speech therapy at La Trobe University. After completing a Bachelor of Applied Science degree, Ms Liu worked as a speech pathologist in public and private practice, and also managed two restaurants. Ms Liu later served as an adviser on multicultural matters to two Premiers of Victoria. She became an Australian citizen in 1992. Ms Liu’s win is reflective of the demographics of her electorate. According to 2016 Census data, one in five people in the seat have Chinese ancestry, compared to 17 per cent English and 14.6 per cent Australian. Across Australia, 3.9 per cent of people claimed Chinese ancestry. Ms Liu’s general career and electoral win is indicative of the success of economic migration within the broader Australian immigration program compared to other countries.
The Department of Home Affairs has released details of the SkillSelect May 2019 invitation round. The number of invitations for the #Skilled Independent visa is 100 and 10 for the #Skilled Regional visa, 110 in total. The minimum point score has been raised from 80 to 85 points for the Skilled Regional visa. The number of invitations for the Skilled Independent visa by point threshold is as follows: 80 points- 36 85 points- 37 90 points- 22 95 points- 5 The 10 invitations for the Skilled Regional visa were provided for applicants on 85 points or more. The minimum points score requirement for the following high demand occupations remains the same: Accountants: 90 Auditors, Company Secretaries and Corporate Treasurers: 85 Electronics Engineer: 80 Industrial, Mechanical and Production Engineers: 80 Other Engineering Professionals: 80 ICT Business and System Analyst: 85 Software and Applications Programmers: 80 Computer Network Professionals: 80