Australia and China have been negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) for over nine years and are looking close to an agreement by the year’s end. However, the countries need to face-up to resolving the sensitive issues of visas and land purchase rights in order to realise the hope of having a deal in place by the end of the year.

China is particularly keen on Australia’s agricultural sector but remains concerned that labour entry requirements and land purchase rights are too rigid, according to a report by the ABC.

“I think the Australian side can actively examine the existing labour admission system and visa approval procedures and take some necessary reforms. There is no doubt that appropriate adjustment of the admission policy of foreign labour, necessary reform of overseas workers visa approval system, and allowing foreign investors to have more autonomy and to bring some overseas workers will help to introduce more investment especially from China,” Mr Li Mr Li told a conference on food and agriculture organised by the Australia China Business Council.

According to the ABC report, many Australian farmers and the government want foreign investment in agriculture. It says a report commissioned by ANZ Bank last year estimates the sector needs an extra 600 billion dollars by 2050 to bring it up to speed to take advantage of the opportunities

Chinese investors are thought to hold 1 per cent or less of Australian farmland. It's the area that might prove the most difficult for Australians to feel comfortable with.

This is a quick heads up that VEVO is 'back up' today.  Migration Alliance is thankful to the Migration Agents Section in Canberra (MAS) from the DIBP for swiftly communicating the news to us this morning.  We are grateful for the communication.  

For the new, improved version of VEVO please click here.

Credit where credit is due, hats off to the DIBP for rectifying the VEVO system swiftly.  

I received the following email this morning:

Ralph Elliot This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. via migrationalliance.com.au	10:33 PM (11 hours ago)
to help

Hi Liana

I work with DGM, we have a client called Lexis Nexis Australia,
Lexis Nexis are hoping to grow more awareness among legal professionals, students and the legal community about their high quality research papers and legal resources.

We would love to collaborate with you to create and place content on Migration Alliance, with a link to our client.

The content would of course be your choice, and ideally non promotional.

Please let me know of any rates or options you may have.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Ralph Elliot

Streamlined visa processing arrangements will be extended to students enrolled in advanced diploma level courses at low immigration risk providers, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, the Hon Scott Morrison and Minister for Education, Christopher Pyne said yesterday in a media release. Prior to this SVP arrangements, similar to those in place for universities, have been available to prospective students of selected low immigration risk education providers who offer bachelor, masters or doctoral degree level courses.

Minister Morrison said the streamlining of the visa application process for advanced diploma courses will benefit eligible students through simpler and faster visa processing, and is in addition to existing arrangements for eligible higher education sector students.

'This will enable eligible education providers in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector and higher education sector to directly access SVP. This will make study in Australia even more attractive to overseas students, while at the same time ensuring that immigration risk is appropriately managed,' Minister Morrison said.

Minister Pyne said that these changes will substantially benefit Australia's high-quality VET and higher education sectors, supporting the sustainable growth of Australia's international education industry while providing a vital boost to the economy.

'The number of international students seeking to study in Australia continues to rebound positively, with an increase of over 27 per cent in the number of visas granted to offshore applicants in the 2013-14 programme year,' Minister Pyne said.

NSW Trade and Investment's Industry and Innovation branch in conjunction with the Committee for Sydney have developed a fantastic booklet (electronic and hard copy) as part of the initiative to promote Sydney to globally mobile talent.    For more information see:  Sydney as a Global Talent Hub.

The booklet is called 'SYDNEY YOUR FUTURE STARTS HERE:  The official guide to living & working in Sydney'.

This is probly the best, most all-encompassing guide to a city I have come across during my time in the profession.