This released today (on a public holiday!):
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599...2-1702,00.html

This seems to mirror the article I wrote last week:
http://www.gomatilda.com/news/article.cfm?articleid=406

I'll post a news item on Go Matilda News as soon as I have digested the contents:
http://www.gomatilda.com/news/index.cfm

Happy Easter!

Thanks Alan.

Found this on the immigration website. Discusses the new points:

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/gener...oints-test.pdf

Thanks Alan & Gems,

Interesting, though having read the last line, all of a sudden I'm hoping they don't increase the pass mark. It seems that to get the extra 25 points for English we will all have to do an IELTS test???

That is indeed the likely outcome if you want to claim the higher points for English language competency.

Best regards.

Perhaps it's time for us to buy shares in the company operating the IELTS exam

Everyone should take note of the last sentence in the PDF file: that the passmark is not far from the minister's mind...


Peter

This is the official information on the Department of Immigration Website

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/gener...changes/qa.htm

More points for 'proficient english' '25' (but looks like you will have to sit the IELTS and get a pass of 7 in all 4 areas) less for 'competent english' '15' (those who hold UK passports etc)

I cant see this 25 points being popular!

Most people will be thinking more costs on top of visa fees! Also time to do the tests!

Some people dislike tests, but may be native english speaker. Just petrified of tests! So they might not want to do the test.

If you dont do the test you are now 5 points less!

However will be interesting to see if the 120 points pass mark will remain, go higher or be reduced to say 110!
But not banking on it reducing!

Gems

There is a note on the link under the points test PDF that states 'The Minister is currently considering the settings for the new pass and pool marks' but i think we will have to wait and see on that one.

Very interesting, and as Alan says this has far reaching implications. With alll of these changes the pass mark also has to change, the $64,000 question is what it will change to.

At a first glance this should be good for English as a first language speaking applicants as one would expect that they could shoot 7.0 on IELTS, as the difference between passing and hopelessly failing the points test was often 5 points these extra 10 are a very, very interesting addition, maybe even a piece of deck stacking.

The MODL requirement to have 12 months work experience wont make any difference to ACS approvals as that is already a requirement for a positive MODL assesment, though DIAC have slightly different requirements to evidence this 12 months.

Alan: I have just read your article and you were pretty close with your predictions, you must have shouted ASPC lunch when you wer down in Adelaide

The fact that you can now claim 10 points for Austrailan work experience (up from 5) also points to a pass mark change.

Radical changes, which need more clarification before anybody can gauge what they mean. Bound to cause confusion though and more work for the pro's. In the short term unlikely to make the system more efficient as all changes take time to bed in.

I dont think that anybody was expecting the Easter Bunny to bring us this!

The message here kids, is that the OZ visas and residency is always and has always been a moving target, it is wise to get your application is as soon as practicle 'cause tomorrow you could be staring at a pool score not a pass mark

I'm not sure the pass mark does have to change actually. The points most from native English speaking countries could claim automatically is being reduced from 20 to 15.

Applicants who have a need for 25 points to meet the pass mark can then sit the IELTS test, effectively opening up permanent skilled migration for those who are presently 5 points short of the skilled visa passmark under the present regime.

If anything, the changes skew the skilled migration program towards those who can attain 7.0 in the IELTS test.

My hunch - assuming the skilled program in terms of planned numbers of grants for 2007/08 is similar to that for 2006/07 - is no change to the skilled independent visa points passmark.

Time will tell of course ...

Best regards.

By the looks of it the main ones that will be severely disadvantaged are the international students in Australia who were studying accounting. This effectively gave them PR as they got the MODL points, whilst having no work experience. Effectively, they could get PR with VERY POOR english (IELTS 5). Now, under the new system, International students with no work experience will be required to get IELTS 7 - this will have a fairly big impact I believe.

In terms of UK applicants, it could be a fairly positive outcome for them. Obviously there is a HUGE emphasis on IELTS and ENglish. Now instead of paying a $100,000 bond because people are 5 points short, they can now go and do a IELTS English test and get the points. For most fluent English speaking people, they will problery have to practice the test to get a hang of the test, but for bonus points - it will be worth it...


One thing they haven't said is whether International Students will still get the Community Language Bonus Points. It was recommended in the Review to make changes, however they haven't said anything yet...

Alan, I have just read your article and you were pretty much dead on with your predictions, but, I understand that all of these changes can be gazetted and hence dont need any new legislation or parlimentary time, can you confirm this.

I think amendments to the Regulations will need to be made - I doubt the minister will want a repeat of the SSASSL fiasco. Besides, we're talking about a significant revamp in the visa classes and subclasses - it'll have to be done in the Regs. Obviously policy and instructions will need to be updated as well.

The changes (if any) to the passmark only needs a gazette though.

Peter

My summary of the changes is now available:
http://www.gomatilda.com/news/article.cfm?articleid=408

Best wishes to all.

Great, now I have to have an Ozzie test to tell ME I'm qualified to speak English!

Anyway, thanks Alan for the info. Hopefully they won't raise the pass mark else there would be no benefit for anyone, currently I'd be 5 points up....though I was hoping from some of the rumours that it could have been 10 points up.