Australian Immigration Daily News

• ·         SBS’s Marija Zivic reports Australian regions with niche skills shortages are being earmarked for ‘boutique’ visa deals offered by the Turnbull government. Minister for Citizenship Alan Tudge said he wants to do deals based on geographical location. Northern Queensland and the Goldfields in Western Australia’s southeast are two regions most likely to benefit.
• ·         The Australian’s Simon Buckingham-Jones reports Canadian alt-right activist Lauren Southern has been granted a visa to visit Australia ahead of her speaking tour later this month. A spokeswoman for the Department of Home Affairs previously said people with controversial views are vetted.
• ·         Starts at 60 reports Australian entrepreneur Dick Smith has slammed the Australian Government’s immigration policies as the country approaches a population of 25 million. Speaking on 2GB yesterday morning, Smith said the last thing the country needs is more people.

Exclusive: Special visas offered to regions with skill shortages

SBS, Other, 10/07/18, Marija Zivic

Australian regions with niche skills shortages are being earmarked for ‘boutique’ visa deals offered by the Turnbull government, SBS News can reveal. There are already 322 special labour agreements in place with certain businesses and industries across the country, but the Minister for Citizenship Alan Tudge has said he wants to go further and do deals based on geographical location.

Q&A: Matt Canavan and Tanya Plibersek clash over immigration

The Guardian, Other, 10/07/18, Luke Henriques-Gomes

Matt Canavan has suggested Australia should have ‘one culture we can get behind’ as he expressed concern about what he claimed was the ‘ghettoisation’ of the nation’s big cities. Asked if immigration was a ‘sleeper issue’ by the Q&A host, Tony Jones, on Monday night, the resources minister and Queensland Liberal National party senator said he was worried that people who questioned immigration levels in Australia were ‘marginalised’ by the media.

All-right activist Lauren Southern granted visa for Australian speaking tour

The Australian, Other, 10/07/18, Sam Buckingham-Jones

Conservative activist and journalist Lauren Southern has been granted a visa to visit Australia ahead of her speaking tour later this month, after ‘an unusually prolonged application process’. The 23-year-old Canadian, who is a friend of polemicist and speaker Milo Yiannopoulos, sparked outrage after she was denied a temporary Electronic Travel Authority visa last week hours before she was due to travel. […] A spokeswoman for the Department of Home Affairs previously said people with controversial views are vetted.

Right-wing activist Lauren Southern’s Australian visa approved after ‘unusually prolonged process’

NEWS.com.au, Other, 10/07/18, Frank Chung

Far-right activist Lauren Southern’s Australian speaking tour will go ahead after her visa was approved following an ‘unusually prolonged application process’. It comes after the 23-year-old Canadian’s application for a temporary Electronic Travel Authority was denied, leading to accusations the Australian government was attempting to prevent her from entering the country. […] In a statement, the Department of Home Affairs said it could ‘confirm this individual has been granted a visa’.

Visa denied for Canadian who warns Australian way of life is under threat

SBS.COM.AU, Other, 10/07/18

A conservative anti-immigration activist has had her working visa approved by the Australian government ahead of a planned speaking tour across Australia. Lauren Southern attempted to enter the country on another type of visiting visa and was previously denied by immigration officials. [...] A spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs said Ms Southern’s application was denied because she was ineligible for the ETA.

Anti-Islam YouTube activist has her Australian visa approved just a day after it was rejected ahead of her speaking tour

Daily Mail Australia, Other, 10/07/18, Adam McCleery

Just one day after her visa was rejected, a far-right activist has had her Australian visa approved ahead of a controversial speaking tour. Canadian right-wing activist Lauren Southern was originally informed by the Australian Visa Bureau that her application for a temporary Electronic Travel Authority had been refused on the grounds of eligibility. […] A statement released by the Department of Home Affairs stated all visa applications were weighted fairly.

Dick Smith urges immigration cull as Australia hits 25 million people mark

startsat60.com, Other, 10/07/18

Australian entrepreneur Dick Smith has slammed the Australian Government’s immigration policies as the country prepares to reach a population of 25 million in coming weeks. While many may see the milestone as a time for celebration, Smith claims it’s more of a cause for concern as the population skyrockets to a figure previously believed it wouldn’t exceed until 2051.

Want a quick way into Australia? Just go through NZ

The Australian Tribune, Other, 10/07/18

We’re a bit peeved with New Zealand at the moment, and rightfully so. They just don’t seem to understand that our ‘special relationship’ can’t work if backdoor migration isn’t clamped down on.