Detention Policy

Just thinking about some of the other immigration measures announced in the budget. On one hand, there is money set aside to implement the "New Directions in Detention" policy which was announced in July 2008. The aim of that policy is that there should be increased capacity to assist people to a migration outcome without the need for detention.

On the other hand there is $186M set aside for a renovation of Sydney's Villawood detention centre. So less detainees but more comfort - is that the idea?

Photo used under creative commons licence: http://www.flickr.com/photos/yewenyi/2886511171/sizes/s/

Migration Budget 2009-10

There have been a number of changes to Australia's migration program announced in this week's budget.

The key features are:

1. the number of permanent skilled visas available has been reduced to 108,100. This is the second cut in numbers announced this year is down almost 20% from the initially available number;
2. there has been an increase in the number of family (parents/partners) to 60,300; and
   
3. the english language threshold is going to increase to IELTS 6 for applicants who nominate trade occupations.

For more detail you can link to the 2009-10 skilled migration program fact sheet.

What do I make of this? Well, the decreasing numbers simply reflect local labour market conditions, but the real question is what investment has Australia made in training its own people? In my view "not much". University education is becoming more expensive and apprenticeships are rare. Until local skills are developed there will be a dependence on overseas workers to help fill the gaps. The higher english threshold will exclude applicants from many countries where English is not widely spoken. Language skills are important but it may end up limiting the diversity in the migrant intake that we have seen in recent years.

Forged Document Rackets

Although it seemed to go unnoticed in the mainstream media, there was a DIAC-Australian Federal Police raid on a migration agent's business in Sydney this week. The allegation is that the Australian citizen registered agent is involved in providing falsified documents to mainly the Chinese community.

There was a similar raid in Melbourne in March where it is alleged documents were being prepared for students wishing to apply for permanent residence in various trade occupations.

Both times, the Minister said:

1. Illegal activity by migration agents attacks the heart of Australia's visa programs and will not be tolerated;
   
2. People who obtain permanent visas based on falsified documentation can have their visas cancelled; and
   
3. The operation highlighted the need for a greater level of scrutiny on the migration advice profession.

The problem with these comments is that it is not the mainstream migration profession that is to blame - it is a small group (whether in the profession or not) who are engaging in criminal activity and who are preying on vulnerable people who desperately want to stay in Australia.

It would be unfortunate if tougher requirements are made of all because of the activity of a few, but unfortunately that's the way regulation usually goes.