David Coleman MP has said the “more skilled, the better” when it comes to Australia’s migration intake during a speech in Sydney.
Immigration Minister David Coleman has announced he will maintain a sharp focus on international students, skilled migrants and increasing migration to regional Australia under the Morrison government.
Speaking at the Sydney Institute for the first time on Tuesday evening, Mr Coleman said immigration had been “absolutely fundamental” to Australia’s success as a nation but it needed to be approached with “clear eyes”.
In order to maximise the return on Australia’s immigration intake, the minister said he would be focusing on international students and skilled migrants while encouraging people moving from overseas to live and work in regional areas.
In the 2019-20 year, the cap on Australia’s annual migration intake has been reduced from 190,000 to 160,000, with skilled migration accounting for approximately 70 per cent.
Mr Coleman said international education was “extremely good for Australia” and would remain a key feature of the government’s immigration policy. To encourage more international students to study outside capital cities, an additional year will be offered to people on the post-graduate study visa for those who choose to live and work in regional areas.
More broadly, 23,000 places will be allocated to ensuring regional migration under two new visa categories that require migrants to live and work in regional Australia for three years in order to be eligible for permanent residency.
