News reports are speculating that Immigration Minister Scott Morrison is on his way out of the immigration portfolio potentially paving the way for the now assistant Minister Michaelia Cash to take over the portfolio. Who would you like to see running the portfolio?

Expectations are growing for a post-Budget ministerial reshuffle with Prime Minister Tony Abbott considering a new niche for his favourite non-wimp Scott Morrison, according to a report by News Corp Australia.

Considered to have ‘successfully’ managed the political sensitive and critical portfolio since December 2009, Morrison has earned a reputation for talking and acting tough on the “stop the boats’’ issue which was critical to the Coalitions 2013 election victory.

“Having battled through one of the most difficult policy areas, he would be entitled to ask for another task. The ambitious Sydney MP’s next move could be to a larger portfolio, possibly defence where the current minister is West Australian David Johnston,” the report suggests.

The Prime Minister is an admirer of Mr Morrison’s hard line approach on matters and in late February hinted he considered him a man after his own style.

From 14th May 2014, an additional 500 working visas are expected to be made available under the sc462 work and holiday visa programme.

Young people aged 18 to 30 from Greece are expected to be eligible to apply for the sc462 visa from next week when Olga Kefalogianni, Greek Minister of Tourism, will be in Melbourne to sign the agreement.

To be eligible for the sc462 visa, applicants must show that they have the support of their government, hold or be studying for a tertiary qualification and speak functional English.

The visa will be valid for 12 months from the date of first entry with holders permitted to leave and re-enter Australia any number of times during this period. Work and Holiday visa holders are entitled to work for up to 6 months with each employer and may undertake up to 4 months of study or training.

Various reports indicate that during her stay in Melbourne, Mrs Kefalogianni will also meet representatives of the biggest tourist agencies, the Community Bureau and the Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HACCI) Bureau and Australian politicians.

Andrew Robb, the Australian Trade Minister, in a letter to the Council of Saudi Chambers (CSC) has reportedly said that Saudi nationals wishing to apply for tourist or business visas to Australia will soon be able to receive it within 48 hours, according to several brief news reports.

On a recent visit to the kingdom to resume free trade agreement talks, Robb told the CSC that there is a need to boost trade and tourism between the two countries particularly in food and agriculture, energy, investment, education and tourism.

Robb stressed that Australia is open to business and is keen to encourage more investments from Saudi companies and sovereign funds.

The Migration Alliance has requested further information on this matter from the Minister's office.

"If suitable Australian workers were ready to fill the available jobs, they would be employed to do so, particularly where it costs $20,000 extra to bring someone on a 457 visa," lobby group Master Builders Australia has reportedly told the independent panel reviewing the 457 temporary-visa scheme. Joining the agriculture industry bodies, the MBA has made calls for the introduction of a new short-term visa with lower language and salary thresholds particularly for short-term projects, saying labour supply cannot be guaranteed nationwide.

Farm Weekly has reported that the National Farmers' Federation is interested in using the short-term visas to hire foreign dairy operators, artificial inseminators and livestock handlers. Commercial builders want to hire semi-skilled workers with basic English and without having to advertise locally to prove vacancies cannot be filled by Australian workers.

The proposals were made to an ¬independent panel reviewing the 457 temporary-visa scheme.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) remain opposed to this and wants the tighter rules introduce by the Labour government maintained. ACTU secretary Dave Oliver said, “At a time when unemployment is at the highest levels in 10 years and youth unemployment is catastrophically high, and there have been a series of major job losses across the country, we must do all we can to provide opportunities to local workers,"

However, Master Builders say that the industry needed to be able to fill skills gaps where Australians were not available, lacked the skills or were unwilling to work – such as on remote projects.

...

The Australian Government is aware of a loophole which allows some New Zealanders to obtain a permanent resident visa in Australia, but that the Government does not publicise this pathway, which for many New Zealanders who are caught in the dilema of being left out of many welfare privileges could be a ‘lifeline’.

Some reports estimate that there are about 185,000 New Zealanders currently living in Australia who have been affected by the 2001 restrictions which cut-off New Zelanders  access to an easy permanent residency pathway to Australian and an array of welfare benefits including those for travel concessions, unemployment, sole parent, youth, sickness and even housing. Earlier this year many of these New Zelanders marched across Australian cites demanding a better deal for the taxes they pay.

But another important date is 1 September 1994. Prior to that date New Zealand citizens who entered Australia were considered permanent residents. Accordingly, under the Resident Return Visa  (RRV) rules they may be eligible for permanent residency now, provided of course they meet additional RRV criteria.

The New Zealand Herald reports that Welington academic Peter Hamer has taken this to a parliamentary committee in New Zealand reporting that New Zealanders who have lived in Australia prior to September 1, 1994, have the right to a permanent visa. 

"That has been quite a breakthrough," Paul Hamer told the New Zealand Herald. The September date was when all non-citizens were required to hold a visa and the "special category visa" was given freely to New Zealanders on arrival giving them the rights of permanent residents. The rules have changed since then and, since February 27, 2001, New Zealanders had to gain a permanent visa to access services they previously got automatically, such as social security and student loans. One of the key reasons for the change was to filter out the influx of New Zealanders moving to Australia solely for the purpose of taking advantage of the welfare benefits.

...