Skilled Migration
Letter to the Editor - Independent Weekly
4 July 2005
Dear Sir/Madam
While Ian Williams (Red tape clogs vital flow of migrants, 3/7/05) is correct to highlight the need to continually improve Australia’s skills recognition processes at both Commonwealth and state levels, he fails to acknowledge that:
- our processes are clearly superior to those of our main competitors such as Canada and the United States; and
- in the recent Budget announcements, the Government provided funding to develop a national web portal on skills assessment and registration and upgrading processes to better inform migrants and potential migrants. DIMIA is developing this in close consultation with a range of Commonwealth and State agencies.
Mr Williams also fails to acknowledge that:
- the approval rate for skilled migration applicants averages over 90 per cent
- average processing times for skilled entry to Australia have been falling and are generally faster than our competitors
- DIMIA consistently delivers the Migration Program on target and in 2004-05 delivered the largest Skill Stream in our history (which will grow by a further 20 000 in 2005-06)
- one of the reasons that skilled migrants to Australia are so much more successful in the labour market than those going to other places is because of our rigorous requirements, particularly in terms of skills recognition
- on 1 July 2005, DIMIA introduced a trial of the first permanent residence skilled migration visa that can be applied for over the Internet with interactive guidance to the applicant; and
- in 2005-06, DIMIA will be out-posting officers to peak industry bodies to provide more direct assistance to employers in recruiting skilled migrants as well as running more skilled migration recruitment events both in Australia and overseas.
It is hard to reconcile the above with Mr Williams’ conclusions.
Abul Rizvi
First Assistant Secretary
Migration and Temporary Entry Division
DIMIA