Controversial Dutch politician Geert Wilders has had his Australian visa granted, meaning he will be able to travel to Perth in just over a week to launch an Australian anti-Islam party.

The founder of the Dutch Party for Freedom had been invited to attend the launch of an Australian party modelled on his own, the Australian Liberty Alliance. ALA’s president, Debbie Robinson, told Guardian Dutton said he had had a hand in the ultimate decision to grant the visa. Dutton admitted this to the media

“This is a decision made by the delegate within the department,” he told reporters in Canberra. “In some circumstances, including in relation to this matter, I was consulted in relation to this visa. I was happy to take the advice from the delegate, which was to issue the visa.

“They will have a look at the whole history. They will do what is in our best national interest in terms of granting or denying a visa. That is the decision that was made,” the immigration minister said

Dutton brushed aside concerns Wilders’s visit to Australia would stir up similar protests, saying delegates from his department take those issues into account.

UPDATE: Unfortunately the Cap and Cease matter has been dropped as there was not enough interest.

Latest news:  Today's radio interview on ABC

Following the pre-emptive Cap and Cease strike by the Assistant Minister and the complete lack of consultation, proceedings have been commenced in the High Court challenging the legal basis of the cease and cap.

Dear Migration Alliance members,

We recently signed an agreement with Migration Cover - a new and exciting insurance product, designed specifically for skilled migrants who are moving to Australia and New Zealand in the next 12 months, or have already migrated within the past two (2) years.

Migration Cover has a dedicated Referral partner Programme, for you to directly benefit from.  The benefits include:

“…tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth”

This quote, which is an extract from the oath that is administered to witnesses in American courtrooms, is of course familiar to everyone who has watched television dramas, from the days of the 1950s show “Perry Mason” all the way up to the present, and “Law and Order”.

And indeed, the direction to “tell the whole truth” applies with equal force both to visa applications that are made to the Department, and to evidence that is given to the AAT. In fact, when I am preparing witnesses who are nervous about giving testimony in court, it is always my advice to the witness that she/he should “just tell the truth, and you’ll be fine!”

Students expect to clawback some of the money spent on high-tuition fees and the cost of living from the generous post graduate work rights but they need a lot more help from the universities to do this particularly in getting jobs in their field of study, according to a report in The Australian.

A survey of 1700 students from 30 countries found Australian universities need to do a lot more to encourage the growth of the education sector.

Costs, course selection and disappointing post-study work opportunities for foreign students were among the major concerns raised by the respondents.

One in three students who chose to study somewhere other than Australia said the high cost of fees (35 per cent) and high cost of living (32 per cent) had been the main deterrent. While this factor has eased by the fall in the Australian dollar, it may not be low for long as analysts are now predicting that the dollar may have bottomed out and is starting to make its way back up again.

David Coulter, market research analyst at IDP Education told The Australia that Australian universities need to do much more for students particularly in helping them get jobs in their field of study following graduation.