News just in:

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa – Closure of ACT nomination program to overseas applicants for 2013/14

Acting on complaints from overseas investors and industry bodies about the difficulties and costs of doing business in Australia, DFAT has made submissions to the Coalition government to keep politics out of the sc457 programme and called for the introduction of a new “less politicised” visa for foreign workers.

Foreign companies and governments in the region have raised concerns with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) about the high cost of labour and the language requirements attached to the 457 visa program for temporary overseas workers, reports The Australian.

DFAT has taken these complaints to parliament in submissions calling for a less onerous programme in order to encourage overseas investments. The complaints raised include the following:

• Chinese investors have complained that the English-language requirements on the sc457 visas are discouraging investments. They also cite Australia’s foreign investment screening processes, long-time frames for environmental and other approvals, and infrastructure bottlenecks as a barrier to extra investment.
• Japanese businesses have told DFAT officials they want deregulation of environmental, labour and immigration restrictions.
• Indian investors have cited the cost of labour and access to visas for temporary workers, costs on resources projects and the “onerous” nature of regulatory approvals process.

The Australian also reports that Australia China Business Council national president Duncan Calder said the usual English-language test used was designed by universities and not appropriate for tradespeople and managers.

Mr Calder said requirements for higher test scores had excluded “vital” labour, and was “unreasonably” increasing costs for overseas investors on major projects. Recent changes to the English requirements had been “problematic” and the labour market testing introduced last June - which require companies to show they have tried for four months to recruit Australians - were even more concerning.

If registered migration agents are looking for a professional SIV Advisor then Migration Alliance has located the right person for this very important job.

Stacey Martin one of NAB's Asian Ambassadors and works at NAB Private Wealth.

Stacey Martin has more than 20 years experience advising globally mobile executives, business owners and their families to manage their personal wealth.  Stacey has been with NAB since the year 2000 and works very closely with the NAB Migrant Banking team. 

Stacey is one of the key contacts for the bank's Significant Investor Visa (SIV) advice offering.

Stacey takes time to build relationships, understands an SIV client's unique needs and designs tailored solutions. 

The DIBP and OMARA really need to fix up Section 280B and create tighter restrictions for persons giving immigration assistance.  Unwitting and vulnerable visa applicants to Australia are being provided documents with 'pathways to Citizenship' which are nothing more than a money spinning con.

The following information has come in today via email:

The source does not wish to be identified citing they are fearful to do so:

The source who I will name PERSON X has provided me with a copy of this document:

Concerned with the low rates of applications for sc188, sc888 and sc132 visas, a parliamentary committee is calling for submissions on how it can boost the programme's uptake.

Federal Parliament's Joint Standing Committee on Migration is set to examine the Business Innovation and Investment Programme (BIIP).

The BIIP is designed to increase entrepreneurial talent and diversify business expertise in Australia.

In a parliamentary statement issued on 20 March 2014, Committee chair Louise Markus said skilled migration is a key component of Australia's migration system.