Thumbnail image for Australia’s migration programme increased for 2012/2013

Australia’s migration programme increased for 2012/2013

May 11, 2012 Australia Immigration

The Australian government has announced a targeted increase of thousands of places to the 2012/13 migration programme, providing additional places to help fill skills shortages in parts of the country’s economy. Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Chris Bowen said the planned migration programme in the 2012/13 Budget would provide support to the growth regions and [...]

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Thumbnail image for Australian unemployment takes a turn for the better

Australian unemployment takes a turn for the better

May 10, 2012 Money, Business and Finance

The challenge of forecasting which direction the Australian economy will move in the short to medium term is becoming ever more difficult with today’s news of a drop in unemployment figures. The jobless rate in April 2012 was 4.9% which compares favourably to the 5.2% in March and is the lowest level since December 2008. [...]

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Thumbnail image for New Australian migration programme limits to be announced soon

New Australian migration programme limits to be announced soon

May 10, 2012 Australia Immigration

The Australia government will soon to announce its 2012/13 Migration Programme which will indicate its plans for immigration in the coming 12 months. There are more people wanting to move to Australia permanently than the country can accommodate so every year a limit is imposed.

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Thumbnail image for Is the Australian government set to cut the border control budget?

Is the Australian government set to cut the border control budget?

May 9, 2012 Australia Immigration

There is intense speculation today that the Australian government is on the verge of cutting the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service budget to the tune of AU$6 million. This rumoured reduction would take place over the next two years at a time when terrorist activity is very topical and indeed the FBI is said [...]

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Thumbnail image for New online video launched to help visa overstayers in Australia

New online video launched to help visa overstayers in Australia

May 9, 2012 Australia Immigration

People who have over stayed their visa in Australia and don’t know what to do about it can now consult a new online video that gives them the information they need to sort out their situation. Australian authorities are encouraging people to do so and say that the video in 14 languages aims to encourage [...]

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Thumbnail image for Australia reports third consecutive trade deficit as the noose continues to tighten

Australia reports third consecutive trade deficit as the noose continues to tighten

May 8, 2012 Money, Business and Finance

The announcement of a third consecutive monthly trade deficit could not come at a worse time for Prime Minister Julia Gillard who has recently staked her reputation on her government’s ability to create a budget surplus for the fiscal year 2012/13. The trade deficit, reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, came in at AU$1.59 [...]

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Thumbnail image for New visa structure of Australia to be simpler

New visa structure of Australia to be simpler

May 8, 2012 Australia Immigration

Reforms to the permanent employer sponsored migration programme in Australia will improve the programme’s ability to meet the country’s economic needs and simplify the pathway for 457 visa holders to permanent residence, according to officials. The reforms which come into effective on 01 July are designed to help the Australian government respond swiftly to labour [...]

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Thumbnail image for IMF backs Australian budget surplus target

IMF backs Australian budget surplus target

May 7, 2012 Money, Business and Finance

The under fire Australian government has received unexpected backing from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which has today suggested that plans for a budget surplus would help to “rebuild fiscal buffers”. The ruling government has obviously jumped upon this comment as a ringing endorsement of its budget plans although this has again put into the [...]

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Thumbnail image for Australia immigration minister says it is safe for Indian students

Australia immigration minister says it is safe for Indian students

May 7, 2012 Education in Australia

Indian students wishing to study in Australia should not be put off by stories of violence, Immigration minister Chris Bowen has said. Speaking during his visit to India he stressed that racist attacks against Indian students in particular which hit the headlines last year were now a thing of the past.

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Thumbnail image for Ecologist warns of Australian conservation timebomb

Ecologist warns of Australian conservation timebomb

May 6, 2012 General Information

Prof Hugh Possingham has issued a statement this week which is ultra-critical of the Australian government’s conservation policy although suggests a number of options which should be considered. This is not the first time that the Australian government has been criticised for a “lack” of investment in conservation and ecology although some of the statistics [...]

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Thumbnail image for Australian authorities downgrade Indonesian terrorist threat

Australian authorities downgrade Indonesian terrorist threat

May 5, 2012 Australia Travel

The Indonesian government has welcomed this week’s move by the Australian government to effectively downgrade the terrorist threat for Australian citizens travelling to Indonesia. The advice to “reconsider travelling to Indonesia” has been in place since the 2002 bombings in Bali which killed over 200 people including 88 Australians. They were also subsequent attacks in [...]

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