Thread: Australia axes 20,000 applications in migrant halt

Australia axes 20,000 applications in migrant halt
(AFP) – 4 hours ago

SYDNEY — Australia on Monday axed 20,000 migrant applications in a major overhaul aimed at clamping down on foreign students gaining permanent residency through courses such as hairdressing and cookery.

Immigration Minister Chris Evans said the reforms, which follow a sudden rise in Australia's Indian population and an embarrassing rash of attacks on students from the country, would give priority to migrants with higher skills.

Evans said about 20,000 overseas applicants would have their fees refunded at a cost of 14 million dollars (12 million US), while new rules would require better English skills and target the "best and brightest".

"The current points test puts an overseas student with a short-term vocational qualification gained in Australia ahead of a Harvard-educated environmental scientist," Evans said in a statement.

The new measures are likely to weigh on Australia's large overseas education sector, which successfully targeted Asian students to become the country's fourth largest earner of foreign money.

The sector has been hit by widespread allegations of shoddy practice and visa scams by migration agents, with several institutions forced to close last year.

Evans said the current Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) had prompted a massive influx in foreign students attending courses that put them in line for permanent residency.

"We had tens of thousands of students studying cookery and accounting and hairdressing because that was on the list, those subjects were on the list and that got them through to permanent residency," he told ABC radio.

Australia attracted some 117,000 Indian students in the year to October, about 19 percent of foreign enrolments. Other major source countries include China, South Korea, Nepal, Thailand and Brazil.

Hundreds of Indians have been robbed and assaulted in Australia over the past 18 months, prompting allegations of racism and media outrage in the South Asian country.

Britain last week said it would slash its number of foreign visa students and raise English requirements to stop people coming to the country to work illegally.

google.com

I am not a rascist but do agree that by selecting those that can contribute almost immediately to society in general upon their arrival is a far better bet for the nation as a whole.

Good move and all other nations should follow this fair and proper decision.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

Good move and all other nations should follow this fair and proper decision.

Be careful, if this was the UK we'd be accused of being racist and hardline BNP supporters.

read the last line of the OP melvbot

Nothing wrong in going to Aus to study. Why don't they change the rules to state that completion of studies there is on par with graduates from any other country and they need to apply again for a long term visa or residency?

if they weeded out the useless retards from the public service maybe they would not be publishing that australia need hairdressers.

too many cnuts who have not done a days work in their lives

Originally Posted by Mid

"We had tens of thousands of students studying cookery and accounting and hairdressing

Accounting is on par with hairdressing and burger flippers?

Originally Posted by melvbot

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

Good move and all other nations should follow this fair and proper decision.

Be careful, if this was the UK we'd be accused of being racist and hardline BNP supporters.

Think some of you mini cab drivers need to cut back on your meds. Seems very fair to me. The practice of semi educated people, with no connection to Oz, getting into by doing hairdressing courses was fucking things up for skilled applicants. Obviously a loophole closed.

Sikh hairdressers? Surely an oxymoron?

But how does this compare with the practice of semi educated people with no connection to Thailand getting in (to Thailand) by doing Thai language courses?

Or TEFLers?

Still it's a bloody good idea, certainly in the UK we have more than enough home brewed layabouts so why should we import more?

Obviously a good idea. People have been gaming the system and the rules were just wrong. Good on Australia that they just change the rules.

Will be interesting to see what happens when all these Indians are suddenly skilled miners. No really the mining industry was applauding the move and saying they urgently need people.

Anyone know any loop hole left for an Irish Citizen to gain entry to Australia to live ?
I am prepared to pay for a course for a year .( though after a year i may not want to stay Ha ,Ha )

Originally Posted by anto2

Anyone know any loop hole left for an Irish Citizen to gain entry to Australia to live ? I am prepared to pay for a course for a year .( though after a year i may not want to stay Ha ,Ha )

NO.

Fok offf

What is it that made the Indians think that what Australia needs is more hairdressers?

Maybe they took a look at all those mullets and thought "I am telling you, better I can cut hair than that".

And cooks? Or are they all over there learning how to make a decent Indian curry?

Originally Posted by anto2

Anyone know any loop hole left for an Irish Citizen to gain entry to Australia to live ?
I am prepared to pay for a course for a year .( though after a year i may not want to stay Ha ,Ha )

Emigrate to New Zealand and as soon as you get a passport move to Australia.

Originally Posted by anto2

Anyone know any loop hole left for an Irish Citizen to gain entry to Australia to live ?

have you thought about hairdressing? Better move quick though...

Originally Posted by Belepheron

But how does this compare with the practice of semi educated people with no connection to Thailand getting in (to Thailand) by doing Thai language courses? Or TEFLers?

But that will only get you a years visa and is not a permanent residency,, And you can not get a work permit for just anything, TEFL can get a visa if they have a job, but I do think they have a week after the job to fuk off..

You go there on an education visa. After you complete your studies you leave - period.

Whether they would be allowed to work would be a decision above my pay grade.