The Blog
The Federal Government last night released its 2011-2012 Budget, including limited but significant changes to the Migration Program. There were increases in places available within the Skilled (+12,000), Family (+4000) and Humanitarian (+1000) Streams, bringing the Program total to about 185,000 annual entrants.
An increased focus on regional migration was revealed for the coming year, including:
1) 6000 additional places added to the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS);
2) Fast-tracked, uncapped and "demand-driven" Subclass 457 grants for regional areas, including a new processing centre in Brisbane and 10 day processing time targets;
3) Enterprise Migration Agreements (EMAs) for large, regional area employers; and
4) Regional Migration Agreements "targeted at high growth regional areas where local labour is in short supply".
Also released was DIAC's proposed Skilled Migrant Selection Model, a system for soliciting expressions of interest from potential migrants and then inviting applications from the best suited.
Thanks to MIA for the above information
