AUSTRALIAN MIGRATION REFORMS ANNOUNCED

UNCLAS CANBERRA 000100 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SMIG PREF ELAB ECON AS SUBJECT: AUSTRALIAN MIGRATION REFORMS ANNOUNCED REF: A. 2009 CANBERRA 255 ¶B. 2009 CANBERRA 807 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The government announced on February 8 significant changes to Australia's permanent skilled migrant program to make it more demand-driven and better focused on high-skilled professions. The changes will affect 20,000 people who applied for visas under the program prior to September 2007 and will make it more difficult for overseas students to remain in Australia at the completion of their studies. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) Immigration Minister Chris Evans announced a number of changes to the permanent skilled migration program, saying the program, "has been delivering too many self-nominated migrants from a narrow range of occupations with poor to moderate English language skills who struggle to find employment in their nominated occupation." The changes include: -- The Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) will be revoked and replaced mid-year with a Skilled Occupations List (SOL) that focuses on high-value professions and trades. -- All offshore General Skilled Migration applications lodged before September 1, 2007 have been canceled. However, applicants which applied after this date will be assessed under the MODL system. -- Effective immediately, employer, state and territory government sponsored migrants to be given priority over independent applicants. -- A review of the "points test" which takes into account qualifications, skills and proficiency in English. -- Giving the Minister the power to set the maximum number of visas in one occupation if need be. -- International students whose occupation is not on the SOL will no longer be able to apply for an independent skilled visa. Instead, they will require an employer to sponsor them. ¶3. (SBU) COMMENT: The February 8 announcement shows the government's continued determination to improve the skilled migration program to better address future structural changes in the workforce, including an ageing population. It comes at a sensitive time on several fronts. The ability to apply for permanent residency is a magnet for international students; tightening it may cause anxiety among education providers, who benefit from the full tuition most foreign students pay. The 20,000 people whose visa applications will be canceled under the new system will likely feel betrayed. Many of the affected applicants are from India and these reforms could further complicate the already charged controversy over racially-motivated attacks. The government is clearly aware of the politics involved in the timing of this announcement, as immigration policy looms as a significant issue going into an election year. END COMMENT. BLEICH