DIBP is acting quickly to cancel dubious partner visas with already over 1000 partner visas cancelled, including permanent visas, over the last 3 years.

It has been estimated that over 30 per cent of marriages in Australia involve migrant spouses. And the numbers are increasing as visa regulations in other classes get stricter. This has led to greater scrutiny of both applicants and visa holders by DIBP.

Monash University migration lecturer, Dr Bob Birrell has reportedly said that the huge backlog of cases was putting enormous pressure on migration officials.

"They are literally swamped with the client load, it's very difficult to seriously evaluate whether the relationship is genuine and continuing," he said in an interview with the Herald Sun.

Recent Parliamentary documents suggests that there remains a concerning trend showing an increasing gap between 457 Visa application lodgements and actual job vacancies and unemployment in Australia.

The trend has had analysts suggesting that employers are seeking the services of overseas workers in place of Australian workers.

Most subclass 457 visa holders originate from the United Kingdom, India, Ireland, the Philippines and the United States of America.

“The subclass 457 program is designed to respond rapidly to temporary economic and employer needs” says the report but adds that it may benefit further from a consistent, planned and measured approach to monitoring and reform. Closer scrutiny of other temporary programs may also be worth consideration by the Parliament.

The stage is once again set for the ‘Big Australia’ debate with the latest population projections figures for Australia revealing that Australia needs a net migration intake of 240,000 people per year to maintain its economy and living standards.

The projections are released once in five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). It last suggested in 2008, a net migration intake of 180,000 per year. That figure sparked the ‘Big Australia’ debate.

The ABS latest projections which are based on the 2011 population census now project a net migration intake of 240,000 indicating that big Australia needs to get bigger to survive.

Richard Marles, the opposition immigration spokesman in an interview with The Australian noted, “The ageing population is going to see the size of the labour force plateau and within decades that will start to shrink.” 

Fair work ombudsman acts on some 600 fast food outlets after receiving complaints of underpayment to foreign employees.

Yummy Noodle Box Franchise is among 600 fast food outlets that have been alleged to have underpaid overseas workers on temporary work visas including the 457 visa.

The Fair Word Ombudsman alleges that the Chinese noodle franchise failed to pay workers on 457 visas close to $650,000 over the last three years, in court documents.

Sydney Morning Herald has reported that six Chinese cooks and kitchen supervisors employed at Yummy Noodle Box takeaway shops in Dubbo, Orange, Bathurst as well as Bundaberg, Queensland, between July 2010 and March last year are collectively owed $642,311.

The Queensland Plan aims to have 50 per cent of the state’s population live outside the southeast corner by 2034.

The Courier-Mail has revealed that the Newman and Abbott governments have begun initial discussions about developing a quota system aimed at funnelling new arrivals into cities such as Cairns, Townsville and Rockhampton to promote growth.

Queensland’s Premier, Mr Campbell Newman says there is a growing need to alleviate the population pressure in the popular southeast corridor.