Australian Visa and Immigration News

 5 January 2021

Hotel Quarantine Required For Returned Travellers To Australia

• NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said Australia may battle the coronavirus for years to come with the disease potentially becoming ingrained, like the flu.
  
  Her comments came amid concerns over the new cluster at a Berala bottle shop in Sydney’s west, which has been linked to staff from NSW’s hotel quarantine program.
  
  “We are are seeing more infections in our returning travellers, and whilst we regret any transmission event, we need to learn from it,” Dr Chant said.
  
  In Queensland, Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said five new cases in hotel quarantine emphasised “the importance of keeping a very secure hotel quarantine process in place for Queensland”.
  
  Experts said leaks from hotel quarantine systems were inevitable unless the state or federal government imposed tighter controls.
  
  WA Premier Mark McGowan said that since October his state had been doing the heavy lifting on taking in returned travellers, accepting more than NSW on a per capita basis.
  
  Associate Professor Sanjaya Senanayake, an infectious disease expert from the Australian National University, said the only way to guarantee Australia did not face any more outbreaks was to let no one into the country.
  
  “That would be unrealistic and Australians overseas would expect to be repatriated,” Dr Senanayake said.
  
  “It’s not just passengers and tourists who are coming back. It’s also cargo.”
  
  

 29 November 2020

International students to arrive in Australia for first time in nine months under pilot program

• The first charter flight of international students is set to arrive in Darwin on Monday 30 November, under a pilot program to bring students back to Australia.
  
  Up to 70 students from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Vietnam, and Indonesia are scheduled to arrive at Darwin International Airport at 7:20am on Monday, marking the first time international students have been allowed into the country since March 20.
  
  The ABC understands all the students will be transferred directly from the airport to Howard Springs Quarantine Facility — a former workers' camp near Darwin — to begin 14 days of quarantine.
  
  Charles Darwin University (CDU) is the first Australian university to allow international students to arrive via the pilot program, approved by the Northern Territory and federal governments. Two previous similar programs in Adelaide and Canberra were put on hold due to the second wave of the pandemic in June.
  
  Documents provided by CDU to students said a travel pack that included facemasks and anti-bacterial wipes would be provided to students when they completed check-in.
  
  All students must wear facemasks or other personal protective equipment (PPE) while travelling.
  
  The CDU has sent a letter to each student regarding their travel exemptions, stating the Department of Home Affairs and Australian Border Force have a record of their visa status.
  
  Students have to give the letter to the airline before they board the flight so they can get clearance for the passengers to enter Australia.
  
  

 5 October 2020

International student visa applications from outside Australia have dropped off a cliff

• Just 72,397 student visa applications have been received from prospective overseas students from January to July 2020, 40 per cent of the total for the same period last year, Department of Home Affairs data shows.
  
  The drop-off became particularly acute from April 2020, when Australia was well into its national shutdown.
  
  In June, normally a peak month, applications were down 30,000 on the year before, with just 4,062 submitted from people currently overseas.
  
  "It has just collapsed," said Peter Hurley from Victoria University's Mitchell Institute for Education and Health Policy.
  
  "This is not just a university problem. International students spend much more in the economy than just on student fees, and so it has an effect on the entire economy when they aren't coming."
  
  International education was worth $37.6 billion to the Australian economy last year, but continued border closures are putting that at risk.
  
  Analysis from the Mitchell Institute forecast a $19 billion loss in student revenue over the next three years if the international borders remained closed until the end of 2021.
  
  The National Tertiary Education Union estimates at least 12,500 jobs have already been lost in the sector this year, largely as a result of the loss of international student fees.
  
  

 17 August 2020

Australia prepared to open borders to international students, other visa holders may have to wait longer

• After months of speculation around the return of international students, a pilot program would see a small number of overseas students returning to South Australia next month.
  
  Less than 60 international students arrived in Australia in June, a dramatic drop as compared to the approximately 46,000 that travelled into the country on student visas during the same period last year, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics data released on Friday.
  
  But this is poised to change next month, as South Australia is preparing to bring back the first batch of the state’s nearly 7,000 students stranded offshore, to bring the education sector back on its feet, which has suffered a major financial setback.
  
  Announcing the decision on Sunday, Premier Steven Marshall said the state’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak has paved the way for SA to become the first jurisdiction to welcome back its share of international students.
  
  “South Australia’s handling of COVID-19 has put us in the ideal position to be a first-mover in bringing back international students,” said Mr Stevens.
  
  As part of the plan, a batch of 300 final year students from South East Asia will board a flight from Singapore to Adelaide in early September, which would serve as a test run for similar programs across the country.
  
  Federal Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Simon Birmingham on Sunday said that the SA government’s “careful pilot project” meets the strict safety and health parameters has been green-lighted at the “highest level.”
  
  "All of the quarantine requirements, all of the testing requirements, all of those factors are built-in with this having been approved at the highest level — state and federal, by health authorities — to make sure that everyone can have confidence this is not going to pose any risk in terms of COVID transmission,” said Mr Birmingham.
  
  The shortlisted students will be subject to strict quarantine at the state’s medi-hotel facilities, an arrangement that will reportedly be paid for by the universities or students themselves.
  
  

 1 June 2020

Australia's stalled migrant boom derails golden economic run

• Australia's three decades of uninterrupted prosperity are coming to an abrupt end as the global coronavirus pandemic crashes one of its most lucrative sources of income – immigration.
  
  The country has been successful in managing the outbreak and reopening its A$2 trillion ($1.33 trillion) economy, thanks in part to an early closure of its borders.
  
  But the policy has led to a halt in mass immigration - a key source of consumer demand, labour and growth - in an economy which is facing its first recession since the early 1990s.
  
  Net immigration, including international students and those on skilled worker visas, is expected to fall 85% in the fiscal year to June 2021, curbing demand for everything from cars and property to education and wedding rings.
  
  So critical is migration to Australia that analysts reckon the economy would have slipped into a recession last year without new arrivals to boost population growth.
  
  AMP Capital Chief Economist Shane Oliver estimates that population growth in recent years has boosted the economy by about one percentage point per year.
  
  But as migration stalls, education, housing and tourism sectors are seen among the worst hit.
  
  That has prompted urgent calls for solutions from some businesses and political leaders.
  
  The premier of New South Wales, Gladys Berejiklian, is lobbying her federal counterparts to allow international students in to rescue universities, which contribute A$13 billion to the economy of the country's most populous state.
  
  Australia's government is also working with New Zealand to establish a "Trans-Tasman bubble" that would re-open the movement of people between the two closely integrated economies.
  
  New Zealand is a large source of labour for Australia, home to about 600,000 kiwi expatriates.
  
  To be sure, Australia still enjoys its "lucky country" status, benefiting from resilient global demand for some commodities and having been able to re-open large parts of the economy sooner than many other advanced economies.
  
  But even though Australia's central bank expects the economy to expand 6% next year after a projected 6% contraction in 2020, analysts and businesses warn a sustained recovery is unlikely without the full resumption of immigration.
  
  

 6 April 2020

Coronavirus visa decision helps backpackers as farmers receive unprecedented Job applications!

• Backpackers fleeing the capital cities for work on the land are reconnecting with former employers in a bid to stay safe and healthy while remaining in Australia to see out their visas.
  
  Many have welcomed the Federal Government's announcement that any who commit to working in critical industries, such as food supply and healthcare, will be able to extend their visas beyond the expected coronavirus peak.
  
  French working visa holders Yoann Tahet and Anthony Martorell and Briton, Alex Butler, worked on a pineapple farm north of Townsville, in north Queensland last picking season and returned after losing their city jobs in hospitality when Australia's restaurants and bars closed.
  
  "Luckily I could still get work," Mr Butler said. Under the Government's new scheme, working holidaymakers, as well as visa holders under the Seasonal Worker Programme and Pacific Labour Scheme, can now extend their stay for up to 12 months to work for approved employers, to ensure food security during the coronavirus pandemic.
  
  

 13 February 2020

The Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) between the Philippines and Australia will Remain

• The Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) between the Philippines and Australia will remain untouched since there is no reason to terminate it, Malacañang said Thursday.
  
  “The existing ones will be there because there is no reason to terminate it,” Palace spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Thursday in an interview on ANC when asked if the VFA with Australia will be terminated.
  
  The Philippine-Australia SOVFA was signed in 2007 and ratified in 2012. It also covers the conduct of Australian troops who take part in military exercises in the Philippines.
  
  Panelo’s statement came on the heels of the abrogation of the VFA between the Philippines and the U.S.
  
  Panelo reiterated that the pact was terminated after the U.S. repeatedly meddled with the Philippines’ internal affairs – such as the initiative of several American to push for the release of detained opposition Senator Leila de Lima, a staunch critic of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration who is facing drug-related charges.
  
  “ For one, the President feels that the U.S. insofar as Senate is concerned, the US Senate, as well as the executive department have assaulted our sovereignty,” Panelo said. He added that this is “not only of disrespect to our judicial system but an assault to our sovereignty.”
  
  

 6 January 2020

Australian Government Rules Out Visa-Free Travel betweeen Australia and the UK

• The Morrison government has baulked at expanding a new post-Brexit trade pact to include visa-free work and travel between Australia and the United Kingdom, arguing any special deal that circumvented existing immigration caps could be deeply unpopular in both countries.
  
  “We're not into full negotiating mode and we will have to see what the UK aspires to, but noting that work rights and movement of people in the UK has been a big part of the European Union debate, I would be surprised if complete liberalisation around migration and labour rights was on their agenda,” Senator Birmingham said during an interview in London.
  
  Australia already has a free movement deal with New Zealand but Senator Birmingham said the Morrison government would not use the Brexit trade talks to propose a similar scheme allowing British citizens to work and live in Australia visa-free, and vice-versa.
  
  A largely foreign concept in Australia, free movement could unleash significant economic and social consequences, including a possible exodus of highly trained workers to the UK and influx of unskilled Brits to Sydney and Melbourne.
  
  While Australians can visit the UK for less than six months without a visa, British tourists need one to enter Australia. Some 636,000 UK nationals were granted tourist, business or temporary work visas last financial year.
  
  Unrestricted European migration was a major factor behind the push for Brexit. The Coalition has also moved to ease fears over congestion and employment in Australia by cutting the permanent migration cap from 190,000 to 160,000 a year.
  
  The UK is Australia’s eighth-largest trading partner, with two-way trade valued at $26.9 billion in 2018. Britain is also the second-largest source of total foreign investment in Australia.
  
  Britain will formally leave the EU on January 31 but the existing economic, customs and migration relationship will remain in place for one more year while the two parties thrash out a new trading and security pact.
  
  

 2 December 2019

New Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) statistics show migrants’ strong contribution to economy

• New statistics released by the ABS today reveal the strong contribution migrants in Australia make to the national economy.
  
  The statistics show that the median employee income of all migrant taxpayers in 2016-17 was $49,438, slightly higher than the median employee income for all Australian taxpayers, which is $49,412.
  
  Skilled migrants had a median employee income of $59,304, well above the median income for all Australians, while humanitarian migrants had a median employee income of $32,792.
  
  FECCA Chairperson Mary Patetsos said the statistics demonstrate how essential migrants are to a healthy economy.
  
  “These statistics released by the ABS today confirm just how strong a contribution migrants make to the Australian economy,” she said.
  
  “The figures also dispel the pervasive myth that migrants are a drain on the economy and government services.
  
  “In fact, the median income for migrants is slightly higher than it is for all Australians, which means that the tax paid by migrants to help fund our hospitals, schools and other services is also likely to be about the same or slightly higher than the median for all Australians.
  
  “These statistics do reveal, however, that migrants in the humanitarian stream need greater levels of support as they transition to the workforce in Australia.
  
  “That improved support should include more flexible English language training and better employment services – both of which were identified in the recently released Shergold Report.
  
  “We look forward to following the implementation of the Government’s response to the Shergold Report with the aim of improving employment and other outcomes for recently arrived migrants.
  
  

 4 November 2019

Global Talent Programme to Fast-track Highly Skilled Migrants

• First announced in August, the Global Talent Independent Program (GTIP) will identify and attract highly skilled people from around the world to come and work in Australia.
  
  Up to 5,000 talented people in the areas of agricultural technology (agtech), financial technology (fintech), medical technology (medtech), cyber security, space and advanced manufacturing, and quantum information/advanced digital/data science and ICT will be sought this financial year.
  
  In formally announcing the visa today, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs David Coleman said three was intense competition for global talent.
  
  “We want to position Australia at the forefront of major growth trends in the world Economy,” he said.
  
  “By enabling local businesses to access the world’s best talent, we will help to grow high growth industries in Australia.”
  
  “Over time, the Global Talent program has the potential to have a transformative impact on the Australian economy.”
  
  The Department of Home Affairs today announced a headhunter had started in New Delhi, India. Others have already been deployed around the world in Washington DC, Singapore, Shanghai, Dubai, Santiago, Berlin.
  
  The scheme will target “the world’s most highly skilled migrants” earning a minimum of $149,000 per year in Australia. They will earn permanent residency within weeks.
  
  Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said skilled overseas were required “for our domestic tech industry to grow”.
  
  “We can create high-paying local jobs by making Australia a global technology hub and the Global Talent program is a signal to tech companies that we’re open for business.”
  
  

 15 October 2019

Australia’s Universities face an “escalating crisis”

• The Australian university education sector is facing an existential crisis; its reliance on China, for about 30% of crucial international student revenue, is finally turning sour.
  
  Chinese enrolments next year are expected to be down by about 10%, with some institutions facing double that fall. Normally, countries like India, Nepal and Pakistan would be seen as low-hanging fruit to make up any shortfall, but they have quickly emerged as highly problematic markets following reports of “non-genuine” students using loopholes to obtain student visas. Some institutions are now reportedly cracking down on students from India.
  
  People intimately familiar with university enrolment trends say this has reached epidemic proportions. The percentage of students from India being rejected has been rising in recent years and is now more than 20% — more than double the average rate of rejection for all other students. Confirmations of enrolment and offer letters are now regularly being withdrawn or cancelled for students from India, Pakistan and Nepal…
  
  Now the question for Australia’s higher education sector is: what’s next? The most immediate concern is just how far Chinese enrolments will fall…
  
  China will remain the biggest student market for some time to come. But the salad days are over and all but the very top institutions need to move fast to plug the coming revenue hole.
  
  The latest Department of Home Affairs student visa data showed that applications from China declined by 3.3% in the year to June 2019. However, this decline was more than offset by a 34.3% surge in Indian student visa applications and a 19.6% increase in visa applications from Nepal: Altogether, total student visa applications rose by 7.3% in the year to June 2019, hitting a record high 406,000.
  
  The federal government recently labelled India, Nepal and Pakistan “high-risk” nations for international students, which means that applicants now face tighter scrutiny and must demonstrate strong English-language capability, as well as prove they have sufficient funds to support themselves while in Australia.
  
  Already, various universities across Australia have refused to enrol any additional students from India, whereas others have cancelled existing confirmation of enrolments.
  
  Therefore, with Chinese student visa applications already declining, and Indian and Nepalese students now labelled “high-risk” and blacklisted from enrolling in various Australian institutions, international student enrolments are set to unwind abruptly.
  
  

 18 September 2019

Britain will target freedom of movement deal with Australia

• Free movement between Australia and the UK would be explored by the government in “post-Brexit” business talks, Liz Truss, the international trade secretary, has announced.
  
  Yesterday, while on a trip to Australia, Truss told journalists in Canberra that securing a trade deal was an “absolute priority” after Britain left the EU. She believed an arrangement would take months rather than years to complete.
  
  The proposal, which would allow British citizens to live and work in Australia visa-free, and vice-versa, was part of ongoing trade talks, she said.
  
  At a press conference with the Australian trade minister, Simon Birmingham, Truss was asked about a freedom of movement proposal.
  
  She said: “We’ve been clear on the fact we want to adopt the Australian-based points system in terms of our new immigration system as we leave the European union. We’ve recently made an announcement that we’re extending the work period after foreign students come to the UK for two years.
  
  “But of course, our two countries have a special link and a historic relationship, and it’s certainly something that we will be looking at as part of our free-trade negotiations.”
  
  Britain is Australia’s seventh-largest trading partner, and the value of two-way trade is said to be worth up to $26.6bn (£14.60bn).
  
  

  英国将瞄准与澳大利亚的行动自由

  国际贸易大臣利兹·特鲁斯（Liz Truss）宣布，政府将在“脱欧后”商务会谈中探讨澳大利亚与英国之间的自由流动。
  
  昨天，在前往澳大利亚的途中，特鲁斯在堪培拉告诉记者，在英国离开欧盟之后，达成贸易协议是“绝对优先事项”。她认为这项安排将需要数月而不是数年的时间。
  
  她说，该提案将使英国公民免签证在澳大利亚生活和工作，反之亦然，这是正在进行的贸易谈判的一部分。她说。
  
  在与澳大利亚贸易部长西蒙·伯明翰（Simon Birmingham）举行的新闻发布会上，特鲁斯被问及有关行动自由的建议。
  
  她说：“我们已经明确了一个事实，即我们离开欧盟后，我们希望采用澳大利亚的积分系统作为我们的新移民系统。我们最近宣布，外国学生来英国两年后，我们将延长工作时间。
  
  “但是，当然，我们两国有着特殊的联系和历史悠久的关系，在我们进行自由贸易谈判时，肯定会考虑到这一点。”
  
  英国是澳大利亚的第七大贸易伙伴，双向贸易的价值据说高达266亿澳元（146亿英镑）。搜索结果
  
  

 19 July 2019

New changes introduced to NSW Skilled Nomination visa program

• The new migration program year kicked in from July 1, 2019, and one of the most sought after Australian state for migration purpose, New South Wales has introduced new changes to their skilled nominated (190) program for 2019-20.
  
  Subclass 190 visa is a permanent residency visa for which one must be nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency.
  
  For New South Wales, applicants for certain occupations will now have to fulfil additional requirements like living and being employed in NSW.
  
  NSW has also introduced a system to show the availability of occupations which will be regularly updated to reflect changes.
  
  ‘Demand for nomination by NSW is extremely high. The NSW Government will continue to select and invite top ranking candidates who meet the NSW nomination criteria in occupations on the NSW 190 Priority Skilled Occupation List (NSW 190 List),’ the official state government website said.
  
  ‘Some occupations on the NSW 190 Priority Occupation List (NSW 190 List) are now subject to an additional requirement for nomination by NSW.
  
  ‘The additional requirement for these occupations is to be living in NSW and to have been employed in NSW for at least one year, in the nominated occupation.
  
  ‘These occupations are indicated on the NSW 190 Priority Skilled Occupation List.’
  
  

  新的技术提名签证计划引入了新的变化

  新的移民计划年度从2019年7月1日开始，是澳大利亚最受追捧的迁移目的之一，新南威尔士州为其2019 - 2020年的技术提名（190）计划引入了新的变化。
  
  子类190签证是永久居留签证，其中一个签证必须由澳大利亚州或地区政府机构提名。
  
  对于新南威尔士州，某些职业的申请人现在必须满足生活和在新南威尔士州就业等其他要求。
  
  新南威尔士州还引入了一个系统来显示职业的可用性，这些职业将定期更新以反映变化。
  
  新南威尔士州对提名的需求非常高。官方的州政府网站称，新南威尔士州政府将继续选择并邀请符合新南威尔士州190名优先技术职业清单（新南威尔士州190名单）职业的新南威尔士州提名标准的候选人。
  
  '新南威尔士州190优先职业清单（新南威尔士州190名单）上的一些职业现在需要获得新南威尔士州提名的额外要求。
  
  “这些职业的额外要求是住在新南威尔士州，并在新南威尔士州工作至少一年，在提名职业。
  
  “这些职业在新南威尔士州190优先技术职业清单中有所体现。”
  
  

 24 June 2019

Investor Visa Funds Now Tops $10 Billion

• The total inward investment flows from Australia’s Significant Investor Visa program since it was launched in 2012 has now topped $10 billion, according to a new report from Deloitte Access Economics.
  
  The SIV program was initially launched by the Gillard government in 2012 with the goal of bringing more overseas high net-worth individual investors into the country. But experts say the program has delivered much greater value than the $10 billion these visa holders have invested in the local economy.
  
  The report, the Impact of the Significant Investor Visa Program – a long-term proposition for Australia, will be launched in Canberra this week in conjunction with the Australia China Business Council.
  
  The report found that while the Significant Investor Visa program accounts for just 0.1 per cent of all visas issued annually, its positive impacts across business and the economy are far wider.
  
  Nearly 2,100 Significant Investor Visas have been issued since 2012.
  
  Mainland Chinese nationals make up the lion’s share of SIV recipients, making up about 76 per cent of the total visas issued. This percentage is down from about 87 per cent in recent months.
  
  The SIV program, which is considered a premium path to permanent residency, has been running at an annualised rate of about 235 visas per year – or about $1.175 billion in new capital.
  
  

  投资者签证基金现已突破100亿美元

  根据德勤访问经济学（Deloitte Access Economics）发布的一份新报告，自2012年推出以来，澳大利亚重大投资者签证计划的总投资额目前已高达100亿美元。
  
  SIV计划最初由吉拉德政府于2012年启动，目标是将更多海外高净值个人投资者带入该国。但专家表示，该计划的价值远高于这些签证持有者在当地经济中投入的100亿美元。
  
  该报告“重大投资者签证计划的影响 - 澳大利亚的长期主张”将于本周与澳大利亚中国商业理事会一起在堪培拉推出。
  
  该报告发现，虽然重大投资者签证计划仅占每年签发的所有签证的0.1％，但其对企业和经济的积极影响要大得多。
  
  自2012年以来已发行近2,100份重要投资者签证。
  
  中国大陆公民占SIV受助人的最大份额，约占签发总签证的76％。这个百分比从最近几个月的约87％下降。
  
  SIV计划被认为是获得永久居留权的优质途径，其年度化率约为每年235个签证 - 或约为11.75亿美元的新资本。
  
  

 2 May 2019

Indian Population in Australia Increases 30% in Less Than 2 Years!

• The Indian population in Australia has exponentially grown in the last two years according to the latest figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
  
  The ABS’s preliminary estimates suggest there are 592,000 Indians living in Australia as of June 2018. This is a 30 per cent jump compared to Census 2016 figures which recorded 455,389 Indians living in Australia.
  
  India with 592,000 people moved into third place dropping the New Zealand born (568,000) down to the fourth place.
  
  India now accounts for 2.4% of the Australian population and the median age of an Indian migrant is revealed to be 34 years, same as those born in Australia.
  
  India has been Australia’s biggest source of migrants since 2016.
  
  The number of Indian students studying in Australia too ascended to a seven-year high in 2018. According to November 2017 figures, close to 70,000 students were studying in Australian universities and colleges.
  
  

  澳大利亚的印度人口在不到两年的时间里增加了30％！

  根据澳大利亚统计局（ABS）公布的最新数据，澳大利亚的印度人口在过去两年中呈指数增长。
  
  澳大利亚统计局的初步估计显示，截至2018年6月，澳大利亚共有592,000名印度人居住在澳大利亚。与2016年人口普查数据相比，这一数字增长了30％，其中有455,389名印度人居住在澳大利亚。
  
  印度有592,000人进入第三位，新西兰出生（568,000）降至第四位。
  
  印度现在占澳大利亚人口的2.4％，印度移民的中位年龄显示为34岁，与在澳大利亚出生的人相同。
  
  自2016年以来，印度一直是澳大利亚最大的移民来源地。
  
  2018年，在澳大利亚留学的印度学生人数也升至7年来的最高水平。根据2017年11月的数据，近70,000名学生在澳大利亚的大学和学院学习。
  
  

 22 March 2019

New regional visas announced as immigration levels slashed

• In order to ease congestion in Australia’s major cities such as Sydney and Melbourne, and to distribute the population to regional areas, the Government will introduce regional visas that will require a minimum three years of residence in regional Australia as a necessary condition for their permanent residency. However, there are concerns these measures will make the road to permanent residency more difficult for those already in Australia on temporary visas.
  
  23,000 visa places will be reserved for new skilled regional visas within the 160,000 permanent visas to be issued under Australia’s scaled back migration planning level, announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday.
  
  The Government will also encourage international students to take up courses outside Sydney, Melbourne and Southeast Queensland in regional universities. 1000 scholarships of $15,000 each for local and overseas students have been announced as a measure to attract overseas students to the regions. Another incentive being offered to them is an additional year in Australia on a post-study work visa.
  
  

  随着移民水平的下降，宣布新的区域签证

  为了缓解澳大利亚主要城市如悉尼和墨尔本的拥堵，并将人口分布到区域，政府将引入区域签证，要求在澳大利亚地区至少居住三年，作为其永久居留权的必要条件。然而，有人担心这些措施将使那些已经在澳大利亚的临时签证更难以获得永久居住权。
  
  总理斯科特莫里森周三宣布，将根据澳大利亚缩减后的移民规划水平，在160,000份永久签证中签发23,000个签证名额。
  
  政府还将鼓励国际学生在地区大学的悉尼，墨尔本和东南昆士兰以外的地方上课。已宣布为本地和海外学生提供1000份奖学金，每份15,000美元，作为吸引海外学生到该地区的措施。向他们提供的另一项奖励是澳大利亚在学习后工作签证上额外的一年。
  
  

 11 February 2019

Skilled migrants can accelerate their visa applications under new plan

• Under the new initiative, skilled migrants in Australia will have their visa applications accelerated if they move to regional Australia. This $19.4 million plan will be used over four years which aims to solve congestion issues and population growth in Australia.
  
  Priority processing will be given to visas sponsored by businesses in regional areas. At the same time, the Department of Home Affairs officials help local businesses in regional areas to employ more skilled workers.
  
  

  澳洲高技术移民的签证申请可获加快批核

  根据澳洲新措施，如果高技术移民搬到澳洲的地区区域，他们的签证申请将获得加快批核。这项耗资1,940万澳元的计划旨在解决澳洲的拥堵和人口增长问题，1,940万澳元将可支持四年的支出。
  
  澳洲将会优先处理由地区区域企业所赞助的签证申请。与此同时，澳洲内政部官员将会帮助区域内的当地企业雇用更多的技术工人。
  
  

 4 December 2018

Australia has passed the Modern Slavery Bill

• On 29 November, the houses of parliament of Australia has passed the Modern Slavery Bill with reference to “trafficking and/or exploitation of children in orphanages”. The legislation of new law criminalize the act of orphanage trafficking, which is the inducement of children into orphanages as a form of slavery, such action will now be regarded as slavery and trafficking offence.
  
  In accordance to data from Save the Children, in Australia, there are more than half of the univerisities promoting orphanage placements as an overseas volunteering opportunity. The legislation aims to tackle with the issue of children in developing countries being sent to institutions in order to meet demand for volunteering opportunity in the West.
  
  

  澳洲议会通过“现代奴隶制法案

  在11月29日，澳洲议会通过了“现代奴隶制法案”，当中提到“在孤儿院贩卖和/或剥削儿童”。新立法将孤儿院贩卖行为定为刑事犯罪，包括视诱使儿童进入孤儿院作为奴役形式的罪行，这种行为现在将被定为奴役和贩运罪。
  
  根据拯救儿童组织的数据，在澳洲，超过一半大学将在孤儿院工作视为海外志愿服务机会。新立法旨在解决发展中国家儿童被送往机构，以满足西方志愿服务机会需求的问题。
  
  

 29 October 2018

Immigration to Australia seems to increase again

• According to the new statistics from Macquarie Bank, there seems to be an increase in the immigration to Australia again.
  
  Refer to the overseas arrivals and departures data for August released by the ABS, there is an increase in the annual pace of net overseas migration in three-month annualised terms, which reach the tail-end levels of previous Australia’s second mining boom in this decade.
  
  Although rates of permanent and long-term movements of overseas arrival and departure are not the most suitable source for understanding immigration statistics, the data has reasonable track statistics related to migration statistics of Australia. The data shows that the acceleration of net overseas migration may represent that there is an improvement in the Australian economy in the past year.
  
  

  移民到澳洲的人数似乎再次上升

  根据麦格理银行最新的统计数据，移民到澳洲的人数似乎再次增加。
  
  参考ABS公布的8月份海外入境和出境数据，三个月的净海外移民年度增长率达到了澳洲十年内第二次矿业繁荣的尾端水平。
  
  虽然海外抵达和离境的数字和长期流动率不是分析移民统计数据的最合适来源，但这些数据显示岀与移民统计数据之间的合理的关系。数据显示，净海外移民的加速可能表明过去一年澳洲经济有所改善。
  
  

 30 September 2018

Economic growth rate at 3.4% above and beyond expectation

• Australia’s economic growth rate is reported to be at a strong annual rate of 3.4% in the June quarter, which was above and beyond the expectation. Figures show the economy’s growth rate has increased by 0.9% over April, May and June, which was higher than the expected 0.7% in seasonally adjusted terms. The domestic demand has grown by 0.6%, in which domestic demand has contributed over half the growth in Australia’s GDP in June.
  
  The increase in domestic demand was driven by the 0.7% growth in household spending, which reflected the strong consuming power of households in food, recreation and culture, and furnishings and household equipment. The wages and salaries have also risen by 0.7% in June quarter because of the increase in employment, to be 4.8% higher through the year.
  
  

  经济增长率高于预期的3.4％

  澳大利亚6月季度的经济增长率 为3.4％，高于并超出预期 。数据显示，澳大利亚的经济增长率经季节性调整后在4月，5月和6月增长了0.9％， 高于预期的0.7％。国内需求增长了0.6％，其中国内需求占6月澳大利亚国内生产总值增长的一半以上。家庭支出上升0.7％，推动了国内需求的增长，并反映了家庭在食品，娱乐和文化，以及家具和家用设备方面的强大购买力。由于就业人数的增加，6月季度的工资和薪水也增长了0.7％，全年增长了4.8％。
  
  

 1 September 2018

Australian government encourages migrants to move to smaller regions

• The Australian government is searching for ways to encourage new migrants to live and work in the regions, beyond Sydney and Melbourne. Other smaller regions include relatively smaller cities like Adelaide, Darwin, etc. 87% of the skilled migrants who arrived Australia last year has settled in these two cities, in which raises the government’s concern towards the potential pressure on housing and infrastructure to these cities.
  
  The government is therefore seeking for programs to attract new migrants to these regions where there are demands for different particular skills. The change in immigration policies also aims to relieve the problem of decline in acute population and improve the geographic spread of population in Australia.
  
  

  澳洲政府鼓励新移民到较小的地区居住

  澳洲政府正在寻找方法鼓励新移民到悉尼和墨尔本以外的地区生活和工作 。 其他较小的地区包括一些相对较小的城市，如阿德莱德，达尔文等。去年抵达澳洲中有87％的技术移民已定居在悉尼和墨尔本，这引起政府对这些城市的住房和基础设施潜在压力的担忧。
  
  因此，政府正在寻求方法及政策去吸引新移民到那些需要不同特殊技能人士的地区居住。 移民政策的改变也旨在缓解急性人口减少的问题，并改善澳洲人口的地理分布。
  
  

 25 July 2018

Australia is now the second biggest destination for oversea students

• According to latest research from University College London, the number of international students in Australia continues to expand and it is now replacing the United Kingdom as the world’s second place for international students. The research says that Australia is now attracting more students from outside Europe, especially from China.
  
  Australia has started to brand the country as an English-speaking country in recent years. It has been focusing on promoting its high-performance universities. Moreover, it has been marketing the country as a place with good climate conditions, multicultural and welcoming culture for overseas students. This year, Melbourne and Sydney have been ranked as in the Top 10 Best Student Cities.
  
  

  澳洲现在是留学生的第二大目的地

  根据伦敦大学学院的最新研究，澳洲的留学生人数不断上升，并取代了英国成为世界第二大留学生目的地。研究指出，澳洲现在吸引了很多来自欧洲以外的学生，特别是来自中国的学生。
  
  近年来，澳洲将自己宣传为英语国家，并致力推广其优秀的大学。此外，澳洲宣传自己良好的气候条件，多元化和热情的文化。在今年，墨尔本和悉尼更被评为十大最佳学生城市。
  
  

 10 June 2018

Millionaire’s choice of migration destination

• About 10,000 millionaires, with personal wealth higher than US 1 million, have migrated to Australia last year in 2017, making Australia the millionaires’ choice of migration destination for the third year. According to a report, these high-net-worth individuals, mainly from China, India and United Kingdom, were lured by the proximity to Asia, safeness, political stability and the absence of inheritance taxes of Australia. This benefits the businesses based in Australia to doing business in China and Japan.
  
  Australia was ranked as the top country in the world which is the safest country for women in 2018. Also, it’s ranked as the 9th-wealthiest country in world. Australia has a private wealth of US $6.142 trillion, and it is forecasted that it will overtake Canada and France to be the 7th-wealthiest country in 10 years.
  
  

  百万富翁移民目的地之首选

  约有1万名个人财富高于100万美元的百万富翁于2017年迁移到澳大利亚，使澳大利亚连续第三年成为百万富翁移民目的地的首选。据报导，这些主要来自中国，印度和英国 的高净值人士受到澳大利亚与亚洲邻近的地理位置，安全，政治的稳定和没有继承税等因素的吸引而移民到澳大利亚，此有利于澳大利亚的企业在中国和日本开展业务。
  
  澳大利亚被列为2018年世界上最安全的国家，并被列为全球第九大富有的国家。澳大利亚拥有6.142万亿美元的私人财富，并预计10年内它将超过加拿大和法国成为第七大富裕国家。
  
  

 15 May 2018

Australia Government Increases Budget to Improve Aged-care Services

• The recent Australia federal budget has revealed the government's plan to change pension work bonus. The new budget allows older Australians to work more without reducing their pension payments. It also expands the access to the pension loans scheme in order to reduce equity from their home so as to boost their income.
  
  The government will spend $1.6bn over four years for the plan to create 14,000 home-care places for the elderly, and to show their support to the individual choice of elderly to stay at home, and avoid moving to residential aged care.
  
  It is also announced that the government will spend $146m to improve the access to aged-care services in rural and regional areas. $83m will be spent to increase the support for mental health services in residential aged care. Also, $20m more will be spent over four years in a pilot project which targets the population which is at risk of isolation.
  
  最近的澳洲联邦预算显示政府计划改变养老金工作奖金。新的预算允许年龄较大的澳洲人在不降低养老金支付的情况下继续工作，它还增加了获得养老金贷款计划的机会，减少他们家中的股权，从而增加他们的收入。
  
  政府将在四年内花费16亿美元用于创建14,000个老年人家居照顾场所，以对老年人选择留在家中，避免转到安老院的决定表示支持。
  
  另外政府还宣布，将花费1.46亿美元改善农村和地区的老年保健服务。政府将花费8,300万美元增加对住院老年护理中心理健康服务的支持。此外，四年内亦将花费2000万美元用于针对有被孤立危险的人口的试点项目。
  
  

 21 April 2018

The migrants contribute to the annual average GDP growth

• The joint research conducted by Treasury and the Department of Home Affairs of Australia has dispelled the concern about the need to cut immigration. The paper, released on 17 April 2018, cites International Monetary Fund’s estimation on the effect of migration program in Australia. It states that the program will add up to 1% to annual average GDP growth from 2020 to 2050 because it focuses on skilled migrants of working age, which alleviate the economic impact of the country’s ageing population. As the focus on skilled migrants of working age improved Australia's productivity, the skilled migrants contributed to Australia’s growing wealth and increased the GDP per capita. The report added that migrants, especially the skilled migrants, are not living on the welfare of jobs. Instead, they are likely to contribute more to tax revenue than they claimed in government support. "In the absence of migration, Australia's workforce would begin shrinking in absolute terms by 2020." the report said.
  
  澳大利亚财政部和内务部近日共同发布的报告消除了外界对澳大利亚减少移民的担忧。这份在4月17日发表的报告中引用了国际货币基金组织对澳大利亚移民计划的效果分析和估计，指出在未来30年中，技术移民预计每年能为澳大利亚的国内生产总值增长多达1个百分点。目前的移民政策欢迎正处于工作年龄的技能人口移民到当地，因此提高了澳大利亚的生产率和工作参与率。报告指移民人口，尤其是处于工作年龄的技能移民，能为澳大利亚带来巨大的经济贡献，而且本地人口的薪酬和福利等并未有因移民的涌入而受到影响。「如果政府减少未来移民人口的配额，澳洲的劳动人口将会在2020年前开始收缩。
  
  

 4 April 2018

Darwin's multiculturalism hoped to solve its sluggish population growth

• With around 30% of its residents born overseas, Darwin in Northern Australia is now a highly multicultural area, attributed to expanding size of the Nepalese, Nigerian and Japanese communities. While the population outflow has been vigorous, the northern territory has also been urging the government to allocate more resources to support the newly arrived immigrants, so that the skilled workers would prefer continual of living in Darwin rather than interstate migration. Along with the friendly and warm welcoming attitude of the locals, the concerted efforts of the territory to retain the professionals will hopefully be successful.
  
  

 14 March 2018

Chinese Student Enrolment Challenges

• Impacted by the recent conflicts concerning the diplomatic relations between Australia and China, the enrolment rates of the Australian universities may be negatively affected. Together with increasingly restricted issue of offshore visa permits and intense competition with the UK and the US education providers, it is likely that Australian universities will face a phase of slower growth in university applications from Chinese. In face of the reduction in offshore visa grants, potential young immigrants should consider apply for visas as soon as possible. This could also pave way for obtaining onshore visa applications and citizenship later on.
  
  受近期澳中两国外交关系冲突的影响，澳大利亚大学的入学率可能受到不利影响。 随着离岸签证许可问题日益受到限制以及与英国和美国教育机构的激烈竞争，澳大利亚大学可能面临来自中国大学申请增长放缓的阶段。 面对离岸签证批核的减少，潜在的年轻移民应该尽快申请签证。 这也可能为以后获得在岸签证申请和公民身份铺平道路。
  
  

 6 March 2018

New Entrepreneur Visa Introduced

• In pursuance of a more prosperous economy, the Australian Government would like to attract foreign entrepreneurs and investors into the state, that a new visa would be introduced. The exciting announcement of the new visa has brought hope to many who envision their life in this country as having an excellent quality of life. The acquisition of it seems easier than ever, as the applicants need a state-of-the-art idea and a well-structured business plan, as well as be equipped with vocational level English, which means obtaining band 5 in each four parts of the International English Language Testing Service ( IELTS). Permanent residence could possible be achieved too, once the flourishing business venture has developed. This new visa, definitely, sows the seed of an Australian immigration dream.
  
  为了追求更加繁荣的经济，澳大利亚政府希望吸引外国企业家和投资者加入该州，因此引入新的签证。 令人兴奋的新签证的宣布为许多渴望在这个生活质量卓越的国家设想生活的人带来了希望。 申请的资格似乎比以往更容易，申请人需要一个最先进的想法和一个结构良好的商业计划，以及配备职业水平的英语，这意味着获得在国际英语语言测试服务（雅思）的每四个部分都获得第五级。 随着所建的商业蓬勃发展的，永久居留的愿望也可以实现。 这种新签证绝对是澳大利亚移民梦想的种子。