Budget 2008
May 13th 2008, 10:06 am
#1
Reg. Migration Agent
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Inner Western suburbs of Sydney
Posts: 4,483
Budget 2008
Four snippets already in the public domain:
a) A massive increase in migration, including skilled migration:
The Government will increase the 2008‑09 Migration Program by 37,500 places, comprising an additional 31,000 places in the skill stream and 6,500 places in the family stream at an estimated cost of $1,386.8 million over four years. The 2008‑09 Migration Program planning level will therefore be increased from 152,800 to 190,300 places. This increase is intended to help address skilled labour shortages and to help businesses expand, delivering benefits to the Australian economy.
The increase in the Migration Program will require the provision of health, education, employment and other services and benefits for the additional permanent migrants.
The costs of these services will be offset by an increase in Australian Government revenue of $2,922.3 million over four years, including GST of $1,013.2 million over four years. As the Australian Government administers the GST on behalf of the States and Territories and all GST revenue is paid to the States and Territories, this measure includes an expense to report the transfer of GST revenue collected by the Australian Government to the States and Territories.
This measure includes funding for Centrelink of $21.7 million over four years for staffing and administrative expenses.
b) Increased charges for some temporary visas:
The Government will increase the visa application charge for tourist visas by $25 from $75 to $100 per application overseas, and from $215 to $240 for all related visa extensions in Australia. The Government will also increase visa application charges for temporary residence visas by $60 from $190 to $250, and residents return visas by $120 from $120 to $240. These increases will be implemented on 1 July 2008.
The measure also includes an increase to the fee for certificate of evidence of residency from $70 to $100.
The changes will better reflect visa processing costs, and more closely align Australian visa application charges with other countries international competitors while still maintaining Australia's competitiveness in tourism and skilled migration.
This measure will increase revenue by $179.4 million over four years.
c) Changes to the 457 visa:
The Government will provide $19.6 million over four years (including $0.4 million in capital funding in 2008‑09) to strengthen the integrity of temporary working visa arrangements, including the 457 visa program, by clarifying the obligations and rights of employers and workers, further protecting workers from exploitation.
The funding will support a comprehensive information strategy and the development and introduction of legislation to better define employers' obligations, improve investigative powers of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, and develop a more robust sanctions framework to protect workers' rights.
This measure also includes the establishment of a departmental working group to develop a longer‑term reform package to improve the responsiveness and integrity of temporary working visa arrangements. The group will receive input from an expert in industrial relations, and representatives from state and territory governments, industry and unions.
d) Including the USA in the Work and Holiday Visa program:
The Government will provide $0.5 million over four years for amendments to the current reciprocal Work and Holiday visa arrangement with the United States of America to allow visa applications from people who have completed secondary school to undertake temporary work. The current arrangement with the United States of America requires that applicants either be enrolled, be enrolled and deferred, or be a graduate of an accredited post‑secondary institution.
The cost of this measure will be offset by an increase in revenue of $5.0 million over four years arising from increased visa application charges.
No doubt more to come.
Cheers,
George Lombard
a) A massive increase in migration, including skilled migration:
The Government will increase the 2008‑09 Migration Program by 37,500 places, comprising an additional 31,000 places in the skill stream and 6,500 places in the family stream at an estimated cost of $1,386.8 million over four years. The 2008‑09 Migration Program planning level will therefore be increased from 152,800 to 190,300 places. This increase is intended to help address skilled labour shortages and to help businesses expand, delivering benefits to the Australian economy.
The increase in the Migration Program will require the provision of health, education, employment and other services and benefits for the additional permanent migrants.
The costs of these services will be offset by an increase in Australian Government revenue of $2,922.3 million over four years, including GST of $1,013.2 million over four years. As the Australian Government administers the GST on behalf of the States and Territories and all GST revenue is paid to the States and Territories, this measure includes an expense to report the transfer of GST revenue collected by the Australian Government to the States and Territories.
This measure includes funding for Centrelink of $21.7 million over four years for staffing and administrative expenses.
b) Increased charges for some temporary visas:
The Government will increase the visa application charge for tourist visas by $25 from $75 to $100 per application overseas, and from $215 to $240 for all related visa extensions in Australia. The Government will also increase visa application charges for temporary residence visas by $60 from $190 to $250, and residents return visas by $120 from $120 to $240. These increases will be implemented on 1 July 2008.
The measure also includes an increase to the fee for certificate of evidence of residency from $70 to $100.
The changes will better reflect visa processing costs, and more closely align Australian visa application charges with other countries international competitors while still maintaining Australia's competitiveness in tourism and skilled migration.
This measure will increase revenue by $179.4 million over four years.
c) Changes to the 457 visa:
The Government will provide $19.6 million over four years (including $0.4 million in capital funding in 2008‑09) to strengthen the integrity of temporary working visa arrangements, including the 457 visa program, by clarifying the obligations and rights of employers and workers, further protecting workers from exploitation.
The funding will support a comprehensive information strategy and the development and introduction of legislation to better define employers' obligations, improve investigative powers of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, and develop a more robust sanctions framework to protect workers' rights.
This measure also includes the establishment of a departmental working group to develop a longer‑term reform package to improve the responsiveness and integrity of temporary working visa arrangements. The group will receive input from an expert in industrial relations, and representatives from state and territory governments, industry and unions.
d) Including the USA in the Work and Holiday Visa program:
The Government will provide $0.5 million over four years for amendments to the current reciprocal Work and Holiday visa arrangement with the United States of America to allow visa applications from people who have completed secondary school to undertake temporary work. The current arrangement with the United States of America requires that applicants either be enrolled, be enrolled and deferred, or be a graduate of an accredited post‑secondary institution.
The cost of this measure will be offset by an increase in revenue of $5.0 million over four years arising from increased visa application charges.
No doubt more to come.
Cheers,
George Lombard
Last edited by George Lombard; May 13th 2008 at 10:09 am.
May 13th 2008, 1:57 pm
#2
Reg. Migration Agent
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Inner Western suburbs of Sydney
Posts: 4,483
Re: Budget 2008
Four snippets already in the public domain:
a) A massive increase in migration, including skilled migration:
The Government will increase the 2008‑09 Migration Program by 37,500 places, comprising an additional 31,000 places in the skill stream and 6,500 places in the family stream at an estimated cost of $1,386.8 million over four years. The 2008‑09 Migration Program planning level will therefore be increased from 152,800 to 190,300 places. This increase is intended to help address skilled labour shortages and to help businesses expand, delivering benefits to the Australian economy.
The increase in the Migration Program will require the provision of health, education, employment and other services and benefits for the additional permanent migrants.
The costs of these services will be offset by an increase in Australian Government revenue of $2,922.3 million over four years, including GST of $1,013.2 million over four years. As the Australian Government administers the GST on behalf of the States and Territories and all GST revenue is paid to the States and Territories, this measure includes an expense to report the transfer of GST revenue collected by the Australian Government to the States and Territories.
This measure includes funding for Centrelink of $21.7 million over four years for staffing and administrative expenses.
b) Increased charges for some temporary visas:
The Government will increase the visa application charge for tourist visas by $25 from $75 to $100 per application overseas, and from $215 to $240 for all related visa extensions in Australia. The Government will also increase visa application charges for temporary residence visas by $60 from $190 to $250, and residents return visas by $120 from $120 to $240. These increases will be implemented on 1 July 2008.
The measure also includes an increase to the fee for certificate of evidence of residency from $70 to $100.
The changes will better reflect visa processing costs, and more closely align Australian visa application charges with other countries international competitors while still maintaining Australia's competitiveness in tourism and skilled migration.
This measure will increase revenue by $179.4 million over four years.
c) Changes to the 457 visa:
The Government will provide $19.6 million over four years (including $0.4 million in capital funding in 2008‑09) to strengthen the integrity of temporary working visa arrangements, including the 457 visa program, by clarifying the obligations and rights of employers and workers, further protecting workers from exploitation.
The funding will support a comprehensive information strategy and the development and introduction of legislation to better define employers' obligations, improve investigative powers of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, and develop a more robust sanctions framework to protect workers' rights.
This measure also includes the establishment of a departmental working group to develop a longer‑term reform package to improve the responsiveness and integrity of temporary working visa arrangements. The group will receive input from an expert in industrial relations, and representatives from state and territory governments, industry and unions.
d) Including the USA in the Work and Holiday Visa program:
The Government will provide $0.5 million over four years for amendments to the current reciprocal Work and Holiday visa arrangement with the United States of America to allow visa applications from people who have completed secondary school to undertake temporary work. The current arrangement with the United States of America requires that applicants either be enrolled, be enrolled and deferred, or be a graduate of an accredited post‑secondary institution.
The cost of this measure will be offset by an increase in revenue of $5.0 million over four years arising from increased visa application charges.
No doubt more to come.
Cheers,
George Lombard
a) A massive increase in migration, including skilled migration:
The Government will increase the 2008‑09 Migration Program by 37,500 places, comprising an additional 31,000 places in the skill stream and 6,500 places in the family stream at an estimated cost of $1,386.8 million over four years. The 2008‑09 Migration Program planning level will therefore be increased from 152,800 to 190,300 places. This increase is intended to help address skilled labour shortages and to help businesses expand, delivering benefits to the Australian economy.
The increase in the Migration Program will require the provision of health, education, employment and other services and benefits for the additional permanent migrants.
The costs of these services will be offset by an increase in Australian Government revenue of $2,922.3 million over four years, including GST of $1,013.2 million over four years. As the Australian Government administers the GST on behalf of the States and Territories and all GST revenue is paid to the States and Territories, this measure includes an expense to report the transfer of GST revenue collected by the Australian Government to the States and Territories.
This measure includes funding for Centrelink of $21.7 million over four years for staffing and administrative expenses.
b) Increased charges for some temporary visas:
The Government will increase the visa application charge for tourist visas by $25 from $75 to $100 per application overseas, and from $215 to $240 for all related visa extensions in Australia. The Government will also increase visa application charges for temporary residence visas by $60 from $190 to $250, and residents return visas by $120 from $120 to $240. These increases will be implemented on 1 July 2008.
The measure also includes an increase to the fee for certificate of evidence of residency from $70 to $100.
The changes will better reflect visa processing costs, and more closely align Australian visa application charges with other countries international competitors while still maintaining Australia's competitiveness in tourism and skilled migration.
This measure will increase revenue by $179.4 million over four years.
c) Changes to the 457 visa:
The Government will provide $19.6 million over four years (including $0.4 million in capital funding in 2008‑09) to strengthen the integrity of temporary working visa arrangements, including the 457 visa program, by clarifying the obligations and rights of employers and workers, further protecting workers from exploitation.
The funding will support a comprehensive information strategy and the development and introduction of legislation to better define employers' obligations, improve investigative powers of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, and develop a more robust sanctions framework to protect workers' rights.
This measure also includes the establishment of a departmental working group to develop a longer‑term reform package to improve the responsiveness and integrity of temporary working visa arrangements. The group will receive input from an expert in industrial relations, and representatives from state and territory governments, industry and unions.
d) Including the USA in the Work and Holiday Visa program:
The Government will provide $0.5 million over four years for amendments to the current reciprocal Work and Holiday visa arrangement with the United States of America to allow visa applications from people who have completed secondary school to undertake temporary work. The current arrangement with the United States of America requires that applicants either be enrolled, be enrolled and deferred, or be a graduate of an accredited post‑secondary institution.
The cost of this measure will be offset by an increase in revenue of $5.0 million over four years arising from increased visa application charges.
No doubt more to come.
Cheers,
George Lombard
Budget 2008-09 - Record skilled migration program to boost economy
Tuesday, 13 May 2008
The Rudd Government has moved to ease pressure on employers struggling with the skills shortage by adding an additional 31 000 skilled migrants to the 2008-09 Migration Program.
The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, said today the extra places allocated to the permanent skilled migration program represented a 30 per cent increase on 2007-08 when the Howard government added just 5000 places.
‘The permanent skilled migration program is a capped scheme that has not been allowed to grow sufficiently in the past to respond to the skills shortages now faced by employers,’ Senator Evans said.
‘This record increase in the number of places in the permanent skilled migration program, since the introduction of managed migration in 1947, will help ease Australia’s skills shortage and help fight inflation.’
The increase is further to a special one-off allocation of 6000 extra skilled migration places announced by the Rudd Government in February 2008.
Overall, permanent skilled migration will make up 133 500 places in the Migration Program, which totals 190 300 for 2008-09. The Family stream will be increased by 6500 places to 56 500. This increase in the Family stream includes a boost of 4000 places to the parent visas.
‘This significant increase of permanent skilled workers in 2008-09 will ensure a better balance in our skilled migration program overall,’ Senator Evans said.
‘Australia’s skilled migration program is structured to target skills to meet the needs of the job market by maximising the use of employer-sponsored migration.’
Research has shown that the labour market participation rate for permanent skilled migrants is now more than 90 per cent.
‘The program also works with state and territory governments to foster state-sponsored migration and uses the Migration Occupations in Demand List to get the right workers into the right jobs,’ Senator Evans said.
The increase in the Migration Program from 2008-09 will cost an additional $1.4 billion over four years for settlement services and ongoing core government services such as health, education and employment services. The additional cost to the Budget will be more than offset by revenues from income tax, excise duty, GST and charges paid by the new migrants, estimated at some $2.9 billion over four years. The states and territories will be paid $1.0 billion in GST.
The Rudd Government has also committed $19.6 million to improve the processing and compliance of the temporary skilled migration program, which includes the uncapped 457 visa scheme.
‘This is the first stage of a series of reforms aimed at restoring integrity and public confidence in the 457 program,’ Senator Evans said.
‘The Rudd Government is committed to ensuring the 457 visa scheme operates as effectively as possible in contributing to the supply of skilled labour while protecting the employment and training opportunities of Australians and the rights of overseas workers.’
Senator Evans said the use of 457 visas to employ temporary skilled migrant workers has grown rapidly in recent years.
A total of 39 500 subclass 457 visas was granted in 2003-04 compared with 49 700 in just the first half of 2007-08.
Senator Evans said the temporary skilled migration program is expected to exceed 100 000 places in each of 2007-08 and 2008-09.
A working party led by Senator Evans and the Deputy Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, and including the Treasurer and Minister for Trade, will develop a longer-term reform package which will be considered as part of the 2009-10 Budget.
The working party will consult with state and territory governments, industry and the unions as well as with industrial relations expert, Barbara Deegan.
Ms Deegan is examining the temporary skilled migration program to address concerns about the exploitation of migrant workers, salary levels and English language requirements in order to improve the integrity of the scheme.
Ms Deegan is due to present her report to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship and the Deputy Prime Minister in October.
Media contacts: Simon Dowding - 02 6277 7860 or 0411 138 541
(see http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/medi...1-buget-08.htm)
Cheers,
George Lombard
May 13th 2008, 3:10 pm
#3
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Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,816
Re: Budget 2008
Thanks George.
RRVS ....ouch
RRVS ....ouch
