The DIAC have finally shown their hand in the MODL debate.
The long-awaited changes to the skilled migration program has finally been announced today and it’s very much as predicted.
Occupations such as hairdressing and catering have been dumped to make way for more highly skilled positions amid criticism over students plumping for the easiest courses to gain entry into Australia.
Overseas students will be particularly hard hit by the changes which will now leave many of them wondering about their future. Students following a course that is not on the CSL must now get an employer to sponsor them before their visa applications will be considered. There will be a temporary 18 month break for students to either change their courses or find an employer willing to sponsor them. However without knowing what occupations will be on the new Skills List many students are left bewildered over what to do next.
Applications for Australian visas has never been higher and there has always been some criticism over immigration levels, with the government being accused of having an open door policy in some cases. This door is close to being shut now for many would-be immigrants to Australia, with the government now getting very selective over who it lets in and who it doesn’t.
The MODL and Critical Skills Lists are both to be abolished, the former one redundant as from today and the latter to be gradually replaced by a new Skilled Occupations List which will be drawn up by Skills Australia and will come into effect in the middle of the year. Priority will now be given to more highly skilled occupations. The new list will be published by the end of April. There will also be a review of the points based system.
The mining industry welcome such a move. As we reported last week Western Australia is still experiencing a mining boom and a great many occupations on their critical skills list were related to the mining industry. As China is one of Australia’s biggest importers and one of the reasons for Australia’s strong economy, any boost to the mining industry is bound to be good news for the industry.
Chief Executive Steve Knott from the Mines and Metals Association spoke to Australia radio today stating: “We need the people on the job now and the demand going forward will be even greater as these projects get off the ground.” He went on to say “The boom in the resources sector, particularly in the north-west of Western Australia, has been quite strong so we welcome the decision that has been made.”
The new Skilled Occupations list is supposed to reflect more clearly the state governments skills shortages as well as national shortages. However whether this will be achieved is impossible to ascertain, but with Senator Evans saying that the Skills List, although to be reviewed every year, will only have slight changes, it appears that the government are unwilling to be flexible on what occupations will go into the List. Many states will be reviewing their own skills lists and the DIAC are expected to approve State Migration Plans in the near future.
Senator Chris Evans, Minister for Australian Immigration, also confirmed that all lower-skilled applications that were made before September 2007 will now be cancelled and application fees refunded. Around 20,000 visa applications are thought to be affected by the decision. Senator Evans said that they were unlikely to have ever been granted as visa as their English language skills and their backgrounds would not have met the strict guidelines that have since been introduced. Those applications made between 1 September 2007 and 7 February 2010 will not be affected.
Senator Evans announced the changes during a speech made to the Australian National University. He had this to say to those applicants who have been affected by changes made to the priority processing changes of September 2009: “A number of commentators have criticised me for leaving people in limbo over the priority processing arrangements. I say to them it is my duty in the national interest to give priority to those applicants who offer Australia the most.” So nothing changes for Category 5 applicants. Those who had occupations previously on the MODL are now thought to have to wait until at least 2012, it’s unclear whether those applications will be refunded if applicants choose to cancel. This is bound to upset many who, only last year, thought their dreams of emigrating to Australia were finally coming a step closer. Only those with occupations on the CSL face any good news.
Read the Senator’s speech on skilled Australian visas in full.
So what do you think of the new changes? Are you one of those affected? Do you think that the DIAC have acted in accordance with the needs of Australia’s economy and skills shortages or have they missed the point again? Let us know your views by using the comments box and join in the debate in our lively forum.
Other related articles:
- DIAC Slide in Changes to Australian Skilled Migration Visas - Those immigrating to Australia will be affected by changes announced...
- DIAC Say New SOL Will Improve Skilled Migration - DIAC claim that skilled migration is already improving under new...
- Australian Skilled Visa Changes Imminent - An announcement expected within hours on the fate of many...
- Australian Budget Sets Out Skilled Migration Plans - Australian budget brings no surprises for Australian migration....
Love Australia? Let us keep you informed...
- Join the Embrace Australia community today. Have your questions answered by our experts, start your own blog, get vital migration information and gain valuable insight from those who have already made the journey.
- Subscribe to our RSS Feed and have all our daily news and features delivered straight to your news reader.
- Join our mailing list -
5 Responses to “Changes To Australian Skilled Migration As Predicted.”
Comment by sheeru — February 11, 2010 @ 9:42 am
i think this is not right decesion.many people were waiting for last three years.my relatives apply skilled migration visa.and they were wating for last three years.sudennly the news come application were cancelled.stop playing with peoples emotions.whats the reason application cancelled before september 2007.why not lower skilled application affected 2008 or 2009. thanks
Comment by Jessica LEE — March 19, 2010 @ 2:32 am
I feel so dissapointed and no longer trust their policies. For example, those who applied before 2007 Sep will suffer a lot of distress although their fees will be refunded. Why? because it’s not about the money, it has affected a lot to their plans in life, they have waited for more than 2 years! If they had known that before, they would not have logged the applications and made other decisions such as seeking other contries or do other things.
DIAC can refund the money. Can they refund more than two years’ time for those applicants, during which they would have made a lot of other better decisions for their life
Comment by Yumiko — March 19, 2010 @ 2:43 am
They can change their laws whenever they want. However, the change should not affect people who have logged the applications!Can anyone believe in them?
Comment by Yumiko — March 19, 2010 @ 2:52 am
So disapppinted! No longer people trust their policies. This cause so much distress to the applicants before 2007. It is not about the money refunded, it is about how their life is badly affected
They can change their laws whenever they want. However, the change should not affect people who have logged the applications!Can anyone believe in them?
They can refund money, Can they refund more than two years’time in which people might have made a lot of other better decisions for their life? Where is the transparent and fairness?
Comment by tom — July 8, 2010 @ 8:56 am
whether it is a doctor or an engineer cook or Hairdresser people have applied for the PR because they had the points nessassary to apply for it at the time. all of them are human, some might not have the money to do a expensive course though they have the brains,some may not have the brains to do a higher degree but every human is looking forward for a better life so in which ever way when DIAC changes its policies they should consider they are also putting peoples lives on hold no matter when they have applied before 2007 of after.