Just been reading some of the recent comments...

Aberboy made this valid point and it's really simple:Those going on 457 are skilled people who are going to fill a position that is either hard to fill because of shortage of skills in that particular field or the locals don't want to do this.

What they are not is someone who has applied to get to Australia without a job being there or a need for a skilled person existing.

In both cases, the people may be going to Australia for the sunshine and beach lifestyle (well I am ) but 457 people are already playing a role in teh Australian economy by filling in a vacancy which the Australian company deemed important enough to SPONSOR the 457 skilled person!!

457 people are not just turning up with their stuff in black bags on the border and asking to be allowed in.

As far as I am concerned, I am going to play an important role within my company and also in the Australian economy.

For my child, I'll be paying $4,500 per shool year for fees, I'll be paying rent, buying food, buying some white goods, paying taxes etc...

Where is this pointing to 457 people not contributing to Australian economy?

In fact 457 people will not resort to handouts from Oz govt, they can't, more likely the locals/residents will.

I think if Australia wants to block 457 people coming in, fine.

But remember why in the first place, these EXPOS in UK are held??

Because, these companies are short of key people in specific areas of industry! And putting it bluntly, they can't find any resident or an Aussie with these experiences/skills!!!!

I have blabbed on enough here

Easy enough: if you bar people, don't bring your EXPOS here!!:curse:

Can you get a transfer to QLD, or anywhere except NSW/ACT ? No school fees for your kids


Regarding the rest. It isn't the government that has mentioned this "possible" visa restriction. It is just the Unions and the Media.

It is only likely to happen, IF changes happen in the workplace, (ie the massive unemployment that some people are touting), whereby there are plenty of Australian Residents then unemployed and able to do these jobs.

I guess it's the government, and the most important person for us!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asi...ic/7691546.stm

But the Australian Immigration Minister Chris Evans, only made those comments after being asked a question on the subject, and his main point was: " "If those parameters are changing, the government will take a sober look at those issues and make a decision when we have got proper information" "

The way the media can create a story, can give us the wrong end of the stick very easily, and if people aren't used to this, they can get worried when there isn't anything to worry about.

In the above story titled "Australia warns on migrant cuts", the only minister being quoted as saying "the country could reduce migrant flows due to the economic crisis" was Britain's immigration minister Phil Woolas !

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm,,, to be honest, I personally do not believe that the current economic crisis should and would affect the immigration intakes. If the immigrants/workers cannot find job, they all will go back to their home country.
No one emigrates to get the unemployment benefits of the host country!

I partly agree with you. There is a lot of hysteria over - mainly 3rd world - migration. People everywhere just want to do the best that they can for themselves and their families, but there is a proportion of migrants/refugees that are looking for welfare and handouts. I have a friend who works for immigration in refugee resettlement here in Perth. The federal government has a very generous resettlement program. My friend says that most are just happy to be safe/fed/housed etc and want to work, but that there is also a percentage that have no intention of working and are looking to get as much out of the system as they can milk. I think this is a reality across all western countries that have a refugee system - and a welfare state.

If a person is fleeing persecution/repression/violence then they are a refugee. If not they are an economic migrant.

how will this all effect somebody on the 2 year study route (welfare worker) - a 60 pointer on the SOL - but not else where...

Will PR at the end of the study still be open to me?