Immigration Laws: July, 1995 - Number #23

Australia announced an increase of 6,500 for FY 95-96 in the family and skills categories. They is also an increase of 500 for business migrants and 3,000 in the special category for Chinese nationals who were allowed to stay in Australia after the Tiananmen Square massacre.

The immigration minister had asked the Australian Cabinet for an increase of 10,000 immigrants, but was turned down of because of the potential impacts on the labor market. According the immigration minister, the increase in business migrants reflects the "internationalization of the economy," and Australia's needs to take advantage of resources, skills and networks of business migrants.

The government will plan to accept 83,000 migrants in 1995-96 compared with 76,500 places in FY 94-95. The increase is restricted to the family reunion (51,000 in total), skilled migration (30,800) and special eligibility (1200) categories. There will be no increase in 1994's 13,000 slots for refugees.

A Bureau of Immigration, Multicultural and Population Research report says that the number of new immigrants to Sydney has jumped from 38 percent of the total intake in 1984-85 to 44 percent in 1993-94. The next most popular destination for new immigrants in Victoria, with 23 percent of new arrivals. Up to half of the immigrants who arrived in Sydney were not in the workforce in 1993-94; of those eligible to work, 11 percent did not have a job.

The Australian government has raised the visa application fees from A$400 to $550, and from A$1,715 to $2,430 for business migrants. This will earn the government an extra A$13 million. The government also approved an increase in spending for migrant services of $40 million.

The Australian Opposition claim that the government has "unleashed an unprecedented attack" on migrant communities. The opposition claims the government does not provide equitable access to services for ethnic communities, and that cuts in health and education have augmented the problems.

An Opposition White Paper further claims that Australia's industrial relations policies leave immigrant workers vulnerable to exploitation. The opposition called on the ethnic communities to comment on the paper by August 18, so that a new policy could be considered at the ALP state conference in October, 1995.

Pegler, "Migrants Being Exploited Says Labor Paper," The Age (Melbourne), June 19, 1995. "Australia reports surge in immigrants from Hong Kong," Agence France Presse, May 28, 1995. Tom Anderson, "Aussie Migrant Children forge ahead," UPI, May 15, 1995. "Background to boat people's break-out," Radio Australia, May 14, 1995. Paul Robinson, "Escape Clause for Abused Asian Brides," Sunday Age (Melbourne), May 14, 1995. Karen Middleton, "Intake of Migrants up 10,000," The Age (Melbourne), May 12, 1995.