The department of immigration is undertaking a public consultation via a survey to obtain views on the size, balance and composition of the 2015-16 Migration Programme and the factors to be taken into consideration in planning Australia’s future migration intakes, including longer term indicators.

“We hope to stimulate your thoughts around the planning for and management of the programme to best meet Australia’s economic and social needs in view of the changing nature of migration in Australia and overseas. Your views will be considered in the department’s submission to government on the 2015-16 Migration Programme and will inform the size, balance and composition of Australia’s future migration intakes” notes the recently released discussion paper from the DIBP.

The paper acknowledges that the department is aware of the increasing global competitiveness in attracting and retaining highly skilled migrants from overseas and the need for a clearer, deregulated skilled migration visa framework that will help shape and define Australia’s economic future.

At present, the Migration Programme is planned annually. However, DIBP is considering alternative approaches to planning, with a longer term planning horizon and an increased flexibility within the programme to respond to the ongoing and emerging economic needs and family reunion challenges of Australians.

As part of this process, the department may be exploring alternative planning options including a range-based planning approach and a multi-year planning cycle for future consideration

The Asia Pacific Law Forum promises to provide RMAs with an opportunity to get expert insights on doing business in China from ‘leading scholars and top level authorities from China” and Australia.

According to its organisers, “The purpose of the Asian Pacific Law Forum is to encourage Australian and Asian investors to find solutions to interregional conflict of laws and to show investors how they can protect their Australian-Asian investment activities.”

This year's Forum will focus on business management and development for Asian and Chinese lawyers and investors in Australia and China. Importantly, the forum is expected to provide a networking opportunity with businesses, experts, and lawyers from China and Australia.

The Forum which is in its second year attracted some 200 participants last year and is expected to draw a similar number this year according to its organisers with some 30 sc188 visa holders and over a dozen representatives of Chinese companies expected to also attend.

Other delegates will include Chinese lawyers from the Sino-Global Lawyers Association (SGLA) which is a grouping of some of China’s major law firms, members of the Australian China Business Council, the China Chamber of Commerce in Australia, NAB representatives and Australian law firms such as Baker & Mackenzie, and Hall & Wilcox.

Prime Minister Tony Abbot, has announced that the government will introduce a new “Premium Investor Visa” offering a faster 12 month pathway to permanent residency, for those meeting a A$15 million investment threshold.

The announcement was made with the release of the government’s National Industry Investment and Competitiveness Agenda which commits $400 million towards ‘industry growth centres’ and sets out a series of strategies that promote industry led growth.

Key changes in respect of migration reform, include having SIV prospects target their money at areas of priority to the Australian economy. Currently the SIV grants foreigners with $5 million to invest over four years a permanent visa.

According to the Australian Financial Review, the SIV will be altered to push money towards certain areas of the economy. These are likely to be the ‘growth centres’. The government has chosen to focus on five sectors for its growth centres: oil and gas, mining technology, medical technology and pharmaceuticals, food and agribusiness and advanced manufacturing, where it says Australia has a “natural advantage” it can build on.

The 457 visa program will also be reformed, with the process of sponsorship, nomination and visa applications for “low risk” applicants streamlined, English language requirements made more flexible, and the sponsorship approval period increased from 12 to 18 months for start-up businesses.

Australia’s continued shortage of experienced engineers risks delaying the slew of major projects coming on stream as state governments sell assets to invest in new infrastructure projects, reports The Australian Financial Review.

There are at least $18 billion worth of rail projects in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne which may be threatened if engineering firms cannot find enough engineers.Some of the major rail projects include Sydney’s $8.3-billion North West Rail Link, the $4.5 billion Inland Rail freight route linking Brisbane and Melbourne and the $5 billion Brisbane BAT tunnel project.

“Anecdotally, the skills shortage feels greater,” Transfield Services chief Graeme Hunt told The Australian Financial Review on Monday. “What is different this time is that across several states, Australia is moving into an unprecedented phase of asset sales to fund construction of overdue public infrastructure projects over the next 15 to 20 years.”

“If the work that’s promised comes online quickly, we will run into capability ­problems,” Consult Australia CEO Megan Motto told The AFR.

For Transfield, which focuses on maintaining and operating assets, as opposed to building them, the shortages of qualified civil, electrical and ­mechanical engineers are a concern.

“When you are operating and ­maintaining energy and tele­communications networks, roads and tunnels or large public facilities, those professions are very important...Employers needed the flexibility to employ foreign labour...This also underscores the need for ­flexibility in sourcing skilled foreign labour through programmes such as the 457 visa,” he said.

Perhaps that’s why the Labor leader has strongly declared himself a supporter of a “big Australia” population policy, setting it down as one of the markers he will adopt if he wins the next election. Bill Shorten told The Australian that immigration had been a great economic driver and he expected Australia’s population to grow at a faster rate than the world average.

Both key political camps in Australia have declared their support for immigration going against the recent rumblings of iconic entrepreneurs like Dick Smith and Flight Centre’s founder Graham Turner’s who have been campaigning that a “big Australia’ is unsustainable.

Their views are supported by a 2013 Galaxy poll of 1000 people for News Limited which found that the majority are overwhelmingly against a “Big Australia”, with 70 per cent hoping the population does not hit the 40 million mark projected by 2050.

Bill Shorten however says, “I don’t favour that bumper sticker which says ‘Go away, we’re full.” Mr Shorten says he is enthusiastic about a bigger population. “I’m a fan of immigration and what it’s done for this country,” he told The Australian, noting that there is a disproportionately high number of immigrants among entrepreneurs and tax­payers.

“The number presents itself. We’re going to have a natural birthrate and we’re going to have immigration. We’re going to keep growing, probably faster than the average for the rest of the world,” he said.

Kevin Rudd generated a political storm in 2010 when he endorsed a “big Australia” following projections in the government’s Intergenerational report that the population would reach 36 million by 2050. The then opposition leader Tony Abbott said he would cut immigration by about 130,000 people a year.