Australia immigration news

Here are some recent news updates on Australia's immigration policies and programs:

Recent Changes:

  1. Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189) changes: The Australian government has introduced changes to the Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189) to prioritize applicants with strong English language skills and those with qualifications in high-demand fields such as technology and healthcare. (Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs)
  2. New Priority Migration Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visa: The government has introduced a new visa stream for skilled workers who want to live and work in regional areas of Australia. This visa is designed to address labor shortages in regional areas and to encourage migration to these areas. (Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs)
  3. Changes to the Temporary Skilled Migration (subclass 482) visa: The government has introduced changes to the Temporary Skilled Migration (subclass 482) visa to make it easier for employers to sponsor foreign workers and to reduce the administrative burden on employers. (Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs)

Recent Developments:

  1. Australia's population growth slows: According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Australia's population growth has slowed due to a decline in net overseas migration. The ABS reported that the population grew by 1.5% in the year to June 2022, down from 1.7% in the previous year. (Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics)
  2. Immigration Minister's comments on migration: The Australian Immigration Minister, Alex Hawke, has stated that the government is committed to reducing the number of asylum seekers arriving by boat and that the government is working to strengthen the country's borders. (Source: The Australian)
  3. Regional migration pilot program: The government has launched a regional migration pilot program to encourage migration to regional areas of Australia. The program will provide incentives for migrants to live and work in regional areas and will also provide support for employers who hire migrants. (Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs)

Upcoming Changes:

  1. Changes to the points-based system: The government is planning to introduce changes to the points-based system used to assess skilled migration applications. The changes are expected to prioritize applicants with strong English language skills and those with qualifications in high-demand fields. (Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs)
  2. New visa stream for international students: The government is planning to introduce a new visa stream for international students who want to stay in Australia after completing their studies. The new visa stream is expected to provide more opportunities for international students to stay in Australia and to contribute to the country's economy. (Source: Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment)

Recent Statistics:

  1. Net overseas migration: According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the net overseas migration (NOM) rate for the year to June 2022 was 123,400, down from 164,400 in the previous year. (Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics)
  2. Skilled migration: According to the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs, the number of skilled migration applications received in the 2021-2022 financial year was 144,400, down from 164,400 in the previous year. (Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs)
  3. Asylum seeker arrivals: According to the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs, the number of asylum seeker arrivals by boat in the 2021-2022 financial year was 34, down from 123 in the previous year. (Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs)

I hope this information is helpful!