Push for skilled migrants over 45 to be allowed in
 

Push for skilled migrants over 45 to be allowed in

By MARK PHILLIPS in Canberra
30mar04

AUSTRALIA should allow more older, married migrants to settle permanently as it faces more competition from other countries for skilled workers, a parliamentary committee has recommended.

The joint standing committee on migration says Australia can no longer be as discriminatory about who it accepts as skilled migrants as it once was.

It has recommended the removal of an age limit which blocks potential skilled migrants aged over 45 from settling in Australia. And it says a spouse should be given greater weight in the migration points test to reflect their importance in smoothing the settling process.

The call for more older skilled migrants comes as Australians are urged to work longer and retire later to reduce the strain on government budgets.

A committee report released yesterday, To Make A Contribution, says Australia is still competitive in attracting skilled migrants. We had almost 115,000 permanent and temporary skilled migrants in 2002-03.

The report compared Australia's competitiveness in the global skills market with Canada, Germany, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Britain and the US.

Two-thirds of migrants still say that the primary motivators for coming to Australia were providing for their families' future and lifestyle/climate. Jobs were a lower priority.

But the committee says competition for the pool of workers with in-demand skills must lead to changes in Australia's immigration programs.

Committee chairwoman, Queensland Liberal MP Teresa Gambaro, said most other countries Australia was competing with for skilled migrants had no age limit, or it was much higher than 45 years.

Other recommendations were:

BETTER co-ordination between federal, state and territory governments to market to potential migrants those regions suffering from skills shortages.

STANDARDISED and streamlined recognition of skills and qualifications brought to Australia by migrants, such as medical and nursing degrees.

Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone will consider the recommendations.

Has DUP been making political donations?;)

I think that Australias attitude to older migrants is ridiculous.

We have only just scraped in by the skin of our teeth because my husband was 45 in January... this guy has 20yrs full on experience in mental health nursing, from acute psychiatry, drug rehab and serious forensic psychiatry. He still has at least 20yrs work left in him, yet immigration considers him too much of a risk after 45??!!!

I believe they have some sort of phobia about health care and what it will cost them, at the expense of gaining an extremely experienced and knowledgable work force for nothing!!

Most of us over 45 will not be claiming child benefits as they are all grown up. Surely this redresses some balance somewhere??