Businesses see migrants as an opportunity, but the locals, feeling a bit disenfranchised, see migrants as a threat. Perhaps migrants give it all they’ve got because they’ve got everything to lose, if they don’t. And migrant children are trained to do the same thereby fostering a new breed of challengers and challenges. Is the competition the real issue? Is it a threat to the way of life here and the sense of ‘entitlement’? What exactly is the challenge migrants pose? Do migrants work harder? What do you think?

Indians in IT, Lebanese concreters, Korean and Chinese electricians, Filipino chefs, the list goes on in SMH columnist Sam de Brito’s article which suggests that the poor form of locally bred labour is the reason why employers prefer migrant workers.

Business basics tell you money flows to its best use or returns. The fighting words of one of Sam de Brito’s interviewees, makes that quite plain: "I'm just not gonna hire Aussies anymore.” de Brito states that the unnamed proprietor of a successful cafe/restaurant has been “worn down by the unreliability of his Australian-born staff.”

de Brito writes, “[The proprietor’s] establishment, once manned by sun-kissed locals, is now powered exclusively by Asian, Middle Eastern and Afghan immigrants as well as visiting backpackers, all of whom are booking valuable experience and guidance from their talented and accomplished restaurateur employer.”

The proprietor’s says, "Aussies don't want to work. Or they won't work weekends or public holidays. Or they can only work these days and not those days. Or they ring up and say they're sick and they were drinking with me the night before. Or they have to take a week off to go to Splendour," he says.

The 2nd annual Significant Investor Visa conference will be held on the 3rd of July at the Hilton Hotel, Grand Ballroom, Sydney.

The conference will discuss the mission-critical topics central to the success of SIV, and will provide a platform for investors/their advisors/compradors, investment providers/SMEs and service providers to network.  Migration Alliance is sponsoring the event.

Interest in our SIV initiatives (including our latest newsletter here) has been strong, especially with the SIV programme gaining momentum. The magnitude for SIV opportunities can be seen in the $650 million in fees (immigration/legal fees alone) paid by 65,000 applicants to Canada's SIV equivalent. We are expecting 340-400 delegates.  Migration Alliance encourages all RMAs with an interest in SIVs to participate in this conference.

We are seeing the rise of the Australia comprador, (a reversal of history) in connecting Chinese UHNW to Australian investment opportunities

The Office of the MARA spent $0.00 on advertising the services of Registered Migration Agents last financial year.

$0.00

https://www.mara.gov.au/ClientFiles/AnnualReports/2012-2013/appendices.htm#2

See the annual report link above where you will find the sentence:

Did you know that Sydney TAFE offers 24/7 online payment by credit card for 457 Visa Training Benchmark A?  Complete the details on the online form and you can instantly print your own receipt, at any time.  It’s so easy.
 
Sydney TAFE developed the online facility to assist RMAs in meeting urgent payment requests.  The month of June is usually hectic so take advantage of this easy option now.
 
Elizabeth Mitchell, Manager Visa Contributions for Sydney TAFE, has provided her delicious recipe for Rocky Road for those who indulge in chocolate to reduce EOFY stress.

Professionals Australia has made submissions to the 457 panel to take Engineers off the skills list. Its chief executive Chris Walton has told the ABC that too many locals are without jobs and the flow of migrant workers needs to stop.  Mr Walton did not address the problem employers are having in getting Australian specialists to relocate to regional areas to do the work employers need to get done.

The peak body representing engineers, scientists and managers is urging the Abbott government to tighten controls over skilled migration visas.

“In the last year there's about 7,000 job losses of engineers alone due to the hiatus in the resources sector and now we face hundreds more engineers being on the unemployment list as a result of the collapse of the vehicle industry. And there are many other professionals who are also facing a struggle to get a job,” Chris Walton told the ABC.

“During the boom period of the resource we did support the need for some migrant labour but the labour market has changed. Once the big mining companies put a halt to a range of projects and once the end of the stimulus package with the school hall program and that finished and now with the collapse in the manufacturing industry, you've had a perfect storm and the Government needs to adjust.

He says that temporary labour should be that and the labour market should be constantly tested and adjustments made: “The Federal Government needs to take, temporarily take engineers off the skilled occupation list until there is a change in the labour market,” said Mr Walton.

But the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry says it doesn't believe there are too many foreign workers. ACC’s CEO, Kate Carnell says that the problem is that employers still cannot get Australians with the right level of skill to relocate to areas where the work needs to be done.