The man behind the Baird Report outlines his recommendations.

The Baird Report came out this week and was scathing of the inadequate protection for overseas students.

The Baird Report was commissioned by the Australian Department for Education to produce a report on the legislation that governs international education in Australia. Bruce Baird is the man behind the report and he raised a number of concerns about international education.

On discussing the recent violence and assaults on Indian students the report stated: “The recent attacks, predominantly on young Indian students, have saddened me as an Australian. I have a strong interest in Australia’s successful multicultural ethos through my involvement in refugee issues, and it is extremely disappointment to see Australia’s reputation as a safe and tolerant country damaged. I condemn these acts of violence.”

He recommends that overseas students have more support and somewhere safe to go to if problems arise. He also advises strengthening legislation to protect international students.

 Of unscrupulous and fraudulent colleges that take advantage of overseas students he came up with a list of worrying concerns: “Concerns raised during consultations included reports of: false and misleading information provided by some education agents, poor quality education and training, gross over-enrolments, lack of appropriate education facilities, providers paying exorbitant commissions to education agents, limited financial scrutiny of providers, ineffective application and enforcement of regulation, low English language entry requirements, poor social inclusion of students in their institutions and the broader community, inadequate complaints and dispute handling services and some duplication between Commonwealth and states and territories leading to confusion and unnecessary regulatory burden.”

The report calls for more support for international students and an improvement in the quality and availability of information to them and stronger consumer protection strategies to protect students against fraudulent agencies. He also called for more regulation of Australia’s international education sector.

The report comes on the back of changes the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship have already made to immigration legislation. The DIAC introduced stricter English language requirements and took general occupations such as hairdressing, off the skilled occupations list to discourage students from applying for easy courses in an attempt to secure a permanent visa into Australia.  It is hoped this will stop fraudulent colleges offering such general courses at high fees with the promise to secure residential visas to students.

Overall the Baird report has been welcomed by government officials and migration agents alike. Susan Wareham McGrath, a member of the Embrace Community, tells us of her reaction to the report: “I hope that the Deputy Prime Minister takes the findings of the Review seriously, and wastes no time in implementing its recommendations; particularly in the light of the current reform agenda being implemented Australia-wide across vocational and higher education.”

“The Hon Bruce Baird and his team made 40 recommendations in the report and I commend their consistent focus on developing stronger, smarter, simpler legislation and regulation, to support overseas students – which I believe is long overdue.”

Australian Education Minister Julia Gillard also welcomed the report, stating that international education was important to Australia’s reputation and that the government would work hard to ensure that the government take note of the recommendations made and act upon them.

The Baird Review into the Overseas Students Education Services Act 2000 can be accessed via the link if you wish to read the report in full. Meanwhile, if you want to discuss any aspect of the review then why not join our friendly online forum for free where you can chat, discuss and debate this and all issues relating to Australia immigration, travel and culture.

The curvaceous Saffire Hotel - the Jewel of Tasmania.

The exclusive new Spicers Balfour Hotel opens in Brisbane in May offering luxurious accommodation with magnificent views of Brisbane at reasonable prices.

This unique hotel at first glance looks like one of the large classic Queenslander homes, but it’s only when you step inside that you see the contemporary European twist that marks this hotel out from the rest.

With nine spacious rooms, a large dining room, library, secluded and private courtyard, verandah and roof top bar overlooking the city and Story Bridge you’ll feel like a celebrity on a budget! This hotel offers luxurious accommodation in unique settings. Each one of the rooms is decorated to the highest standards, yet each is different in its own quirky way.

Prices will also surprise the modest traveller, set as they are at a competitive £150 per night including a full breakfast. At that price this hotel stays one step ahead of the game and is bound to be a hit with travellers in Brisbane, so make sure your booking is nice and early!

Another luxury and classic hotel to open is the five-star hotel Saffire in Tasmania. Superbly located on the stunning Freycinet Peninsula this hotel offers everything the discerning visitor could wish for. A world-class day spa with gym will enable you to work up an appetite for the exquisitely prepared menu made from local fresh produce. Put a little of Tasmania’s fire in your belly with these gourmet delights prepared by top chef Hugh Whitehouse who is even willing to pass on some of his culinary secrets in private cooking classes for guests.

To ensure every guest’s privacy and to keep the hotel as personal as possible, a maximum number of just 40 guests is allowed – well this is a hotel that you’ll want to keep to yourself as much as possible! Each room boasts a magnificent ocean view and has their own designer bathrooms, private decks, separate lounge areas, king-size beds and state-of-the-art television and sound technology. Not that you’ll be spending much time in your room with all that Tasmania has to offer!

For more information on great new hotels opening, visit Tourism Australia and don’t forget to check out our own guides to holidays in Australia.

The baby elephant is tended by zoo staff.

A baby elephant feared dead by Australian zoo staff has defied the experts – by being born alive!

The baby elephant calf was positioned upside-down and head-first in the birth canal – the usual birth position for elephants is to be the right way up and back feet first. So unusual was this position that keepers and experts announced on Monday that the calf had sadly died.

Upset staff were preparing for a still birth when Porntip, the mother, went into labour during the early hours of this morning. Yet sadness turned to astonishment and then joy when the male calf was born at 3.27am alive and well!

Porntip had been labouring for six days when an expert team of vets discovered the calf’s position. An ultrasound scan detected no signs of movement and so the baby elephant was pronounced dead. Experts and zoo staff are astonished at the happy outcome and are now searching for explanations for the extraordinary birth.

Taronga Zoo’s Senior Vet Dr Larry Vogelnest believes that the baby could have been in a coma: “The early indications are that the calf survived the protracted labour in a coma. That unconscious state would explain the complete absence of any vital signs during all the checks and examinations we conducted during the labour and led us to believe the calf had not survived.”

Elephant Manager Gary Miller spoke of the staffs delight when news broke out that the baby elephant was alive: “When the keepers learned the calf had survived this morning, the looks of disbelief on our faces were quite a picture. We couldn’t believe that this could be true.”

But the baby isn’t quite out of danger yet as the next 24 hours remain critical. He weighs in at between 90 – 100kg and has managed to take his first drink of colostrum – vital first milk. He has attempted to suckle from his mother but hasn’t quite managed it yet. The bond between baby and mother is strong, with Porntip gently exploring him with her trunk and encouraging him to take his first steps.

The baby elephant is only the second to be born at the zoo which celebrated back in July 2009 when it became the first Australian zoo to successfully breed an Asian elephant calf. The male calf born this morning is the first calf to be conceived by artificial insemination at the zoo.

The zoo said that the site would be updated with the baby’s progress. Find out how the baby elephant is getting on with the elephant diaries at Taronga Zoo.

Wespac will soon be heading to London.

Wespac, the largest banking institution in Australia is to open a new branch in London next Tuesday to support its Australian and New Zealand customers and also to assist Brits wishing to immigrate to Australia by enabling them to open a bank account before they even enter Australia.

Around 600,000 Australians and New Zealanders are living and working in the UK. Britain, and London in particular, remains a popular destination for Aussies and Kiwis migrating abroad. In our recent feature on Australians living in the UK all three of the Australians we spoke to migrated to London.

For British people wanting to emigrate to Australia or New Zealand, the London bank will also come in handy. Bank accounts, credit cards and even mortgages can all be approved from the London branch before you even book those one-way tickets.

The London branch will also support the tourist industry for visitors travelling from Australia and New Zealand to the UK, providing them with vital services and assistance.

It is not the first time Wespac has provided such a service to fellow countrymen and migrants in the UK – they first opened a branch in the heart of London in 1853 and at the peak of their banking employed 900 staff divided across three London branches. As well as offering a banking service Wespac also delivered around 60,000 packages each year sent from London to their families back home.

Unfortunately these branches closed during the late 1990’s due to a banking review that recommended concentrating on Australiasian businesses and slimming down the banks operations in Europe.

Now the bank has reversed this trend and there’s no doubt that the re-opening of a London branch will be welcomed by many. The branch will be located on the 1^st floor of the existing Wespac Offices at St Mary Axe near Houndsditch for now, but aim to be in their own ground floor offices by 2011.

Embrace Australia also provides a guide to banking in Australia for those considering immigrating to Australia. We also provide information on living in Australia and how to apply for an Australian visa. Our online forum enables you to engage in lively debate and chat about all things Australian!

British expats in Australia urged to vote in general election.

The British Conservative Party have scoured the country in their efforts to win votes. From Mondeo Man to Mumsnet, there is hardly a section of society left that they haven’t tried to woo – except that is, for the expatriates.

Tory estimates say that there are 2.5 million expats living abroad that are eligible to vote in this country and now the Conservatives are pulling out all the stops to make sure they secure their vote.

With Gordon Brown and David Cameron now neck to neck, every vote counts. The Conservatives are hoping that those who left the country to immigrate to Australia. Canada, New Zealand and Europe whilst the country was heading for a recession under the Labour government, will now come out in support of them.

So are the Tories to travel to places like Australia to convince British expats to vote for a political party in a country they no longer live in? Well no, they’ve tried to simplify the voting process for those living abroad by setting up a website to guide them through it. Called the ‘Don’t Leave Your Vote at Home’ website it sets out in the process in five easy steps.

So why should expats vote in the next General Election? What do they care who gets in the country? Well the Conservatives are banking on patriotism to lure expats into the voting arena. Conservative Party Chairman Eric Pickles says: “So many of the laws passed in the UK affect the lives of British citizens living overseas. By registering and voting in the General Election expats can have a say on the policies that will shape their future.”

Speaking of UK policies that change the future of expats, where does the Conservative Party stand on ‘frozen pensions’? Apparently the official Conservative line on this pressing and controversial issue is that they will have to wait and see what the financial situation is when they regain office. With neither Labour nor Conservatives willing to commit themselves to unfreezing hundreds of thousands of expats frozen assets, it remains to be seen if those expats will be willing to make the effort to vote.

If you do want to vote in the forthcoming General Election, you’d better get your skates on as you’ve just one month to register your intention to vote. You can do this by visiting the official site from The Electoral Office.

We’d like to hear from you about this issue, how do you feel about the Conservatives chasing expat votes? Do you think that any future British Government will change life for you outside of Britain? Would you register to vote? Get in touch by filling out the comments box below. You can also debate this issue in our online forum.

Computing professions are now listed on the CSL.

The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) finally updated the Critical Skills List today, to the relief of many computer professionals.

When the DIAC announced changes to the Australian immigration procedures last month, the Migration Occupations in Demand List became defunct, leaving many people who had occupations in the MODL in the dark as to their chances of a successful Australian visa application.

It was stated that the CSL would be replaced with a new Occupations in Demand list that would be viewable by April. The CSL would be gradually phased out and replaced with the new list by the middle of the year. However this left many IT professionals in a quandary.

Computer professionals had to have an occupation listed in the MODL in order to qualify for the CSL. With the MODL gone this was now impossible to achieve.

After weeks of worry and anxiety those computer professionals can now heave a sigh of relief as the DIAC finally get round to updating the CSL – and including many computing occupations on the list.

So if you work in IT and have been worrying about your visa application, you can now view the updated CSL.

Migration Agent and member of the Embrace Community Susan Wareham McGrath had been predicting that the DIAC would do just this for weeks and she was delighted to be able to share the information with our online forum.

If you want to know more about applying for an Australian visa or you want to catch up with Australian immigration news, then save us in your favourites as we aim to bring you all the latest news on Australian immigration, travel and culture.

And if you plan your trip well in advance – two weeks is more than enough time to enjoy the very best it has to offer.  With an excellent rail network (but you’ll need time and patience) and easy connecting flights, the biggest island in the world and the smallest continent is very do-able indeed – so now all you have to do is book….

Days 1-3 – Melbourne 

We flew from Manchester into Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport via Qatar Airways, and thanks to their new pretty direct flight via Doha – you arrive in under 21 hours.  Pretty long flight I know, but they are kind enough to give you a day back on your return.  The flight was fantastic with excellent service and a peek at the new dedicated Qatar terminal in Doha is well worth it.  Put it this way if Tom Hanks had of got stuck in that terminal he’d have never wanted to leave. 

So we start our trip in Melbourne, Australia’s second largest city.  It’s a city with a pulse, and a true haven for fans of the arts and music.  Home of Aussie Rules Footy and a city with a love of fantastic food, wine and the good things in life.  Once the capital of money from the Gold Rush in the 19th Century – nowadays Melbourne is a multicultural city home to people from over 140 nations.  Located on the banks of the River Yarra – it’s easy to get round with a free maroon tram which circles the city, a great metro network and trains.

From our base at the beautiful and very grand Langham Hotel, beside the river there’s easy access to everything the city has to offer.  One thing you’ll notice immediately is the amount of people doing sport.  Australians are a healthy breed and there’s no wonder they win more medals than us in every athletic event.  The great thing about the Langham is the 9th floor gym, spa and pool.  With views of the Melbourne skyline – it’s enough to get anyone exercising. 

Sunrise over the River Yarra in Melbourne.

You can take a stroll round Queen Victoria Market, (with over a 1000 stalls it’s a bargain hunters paradise), ride along the Yarra on a bike, relax in the ‘Tan’ or the Botanic Gardens to you and me – or take one of the hundreds of day trips on offer from the beautiful Port Phillip Bay, home to the Fairy Penguin who are only 16 inches high, to the winery’s of the Hunter Valley to Ramsey Street.  Yes, that’s right I said Ramsey Street – as in Neighbours and that’s exactly what we did.  You’ve watched them on TV for years and now you can do it yourself.  No trip to Melbourne is complete without having your picture taken outside Harold’s House or a visit to Edinburgh High – I promise you’ll be talking about it long after the tour ends.

Another great evening out is on Melbourne’s Colonial Tramcar Restaurant.  A 1920s tram which circles the city, which gives you something new to look at with every minute that passes by.  It’s a real look back in time as Joe the Conductor serves you Australia’s very best food and wine – the atmosphere is cosy, the service is friendly and it’s a little trip into Victoria’s history.  I guarantee you’ll leave with a full belly and a smile on your face. 

As our time in Melbourne comes to an end – we wave Federation Square and the River Yarra goodbye and head via Skybus to the airport for a Virgin Blue flight to Hobart – home of the Tasmanian Devil.

Days 3-6 – Tasmania and Richmond 

I was born in Tasmania and so no trip to Australia is complete without a trip there. 

If seeing one spectacular landscape after another is your thing – then a visit to Tasmania is a must, and that’s without mentioning the great food, warm and cosy pubs and friendly people.  Hobart is Australia’s second oldest capital city, with a population of 205,000 Hobart is small enough to get around and get to know and as unsophisticated as the local fish and chips.  Salamanca Place is a particular highlight with its swanky bars and relaxed atmosphere.  Make sure you coincide your visit with a trip to the famous Salamanca Market on a Saturday as it greets thousands of people to its 300 stalls.

View from the top of Mount Wellington in Hobart - looks like the stairway to heaven.

Another must is a trip up Mount Wellington – Hobart’s most prominent landmark.  For this expedition you can forget your climbing gear, as there’s a road that heads all the way to the summit at 4,167ft above sea level.  On a clear day the views are spectacular from the new look out point.  On the way back down, do a detour to Cascade Brewery, it’s the oldest in Australia.  The beers made with Tasmanian water and flows down a treat, and I can certainly vouch for that. 

We decided to head a bit further afield with a trip to Bruny Island.  We took the ferry out of Kettering, about a 25 minute car ride out of the city, and wound up on a fantastic island.  Bruny Island Cruises is a great way to see the island.  Once aboard the tour takes you right out to see some awe inspiring cliffs like Breathing Rock, sea eagles, albatrosses – if you’re really lucky (as we were) you’ll see up to 2,000 seals sunbaking on the rocks and dolphins jumping through the Southern Ocean.  The guys on board with you are amusing, helpful and packed full of interesting facts. And at 100% carbon offset with profits ploughed back into the area – you can see it all for mere $100 and help the environment at the same time.  On the way back to Hobart make a stop at Bruny Neck, for stunning views and an Aboriginal memorial.

There’s one more place you shouldn’t miss a trip to.  Richmond, with a population of only 800 it’s like the land which time forgot.  With its tin roofs, old fashioned sweet shop and the most famous landmark of all – the oldest bridge in Australia.  Built by the British convicts in 1823 it’s still in use today.  On the way back you could call in at one of the many wineries that line the road back to the highway.  Most have cellars to buy wine direct. 

After 3 day’s we really felt we’d seen the real Australia, we’d gone down to a steady second gear, and with Sydney next on the itinerary – it was time to move up to 5th.

Days 6-9 – Sydney 

We’ve all seen Sydney on the telly, we can all name the two big icons in its harbour and there’s over 70 beaches in easy reach of its heart including the famous Bondi Beach.  There’s nightlife, and food galore, it’s young and vibrant and there’s always something going on.  No wonder people find it hard to leave.  Sydney’s centre is just 15 minutes by train from the airport and it’s easy to get to grips with the city fast.

The obligatory shot in front of the beautiful Harbour Bridge.

You’ll feel drawn to the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, surrounded by Circular Quay and some fantastic restaurants in The Rocks area, but make sure you leave enough time to make your way down George St, and onto King Street to see Darling Harbour.  It’s home to the Sydney Aquarium, the IMAX and the Maritime Museum – oh and a great shopping centre.  There’s plenty of bars and restaurants if you want to just chill and watch the people go by.  On a Saturday the place is swarming with hen do’s and wedding receptions, perfect for a nosy. 

We stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel in the Rocks part of town.  The hotel is an excellent choice of location – in the centre of everything and the views of the harbour are out of this world.  The Rocks is my favourite area, with the oldest house is Sydney (Cadmans Cottage), small and interesting cafes, and a phenomenal market on Saturdays and Sundays from 10-5pm selling arts and crafts and all under a 492ft canopy.

Catch a ferry over to Manly for a real surfers paradise.  It leaves from Circular Quay every 30 minutes and takes about 25 to reach Manly.  The beachfront is knock out.  It actually got it name when the first governor of the colony thought the Aborigines sunning themselves on the beach looked manly.  There’s a sheltered harbour on one side, and surf beach on the other – linked by the Corso, packed with tourists and picnic tables.  Beyond Manly are other beaches like Dee Why, Avalon and Whale Beach – all great for surfers.  If you have more time head even more north to Palm Beach – which is in a class of its own with the millionaire houses propped up on the hill.  And if it looks familiar, that’s because Home and Away is filmed here. 

There’s a few day trips from Sydney you can do.  One is the Hunter Valley Wine Tasting tour – visiting famous wineries and having lunch in the sun.  But we chose to visit the infamous Blue Mountains – which get their name from the blue haze that lingers above the Mountains.  This haze is created as the eucalyptus oil from the trees mixes with heat and you really can see it.  There are plenty of tour companies which do day tips but we chose AAT Kings – due to the recent award winning trips.  Leaving the City at 7.30am you miss the busy morning traffic.  Stopping at Featherdale Wildlife Park on the way – you’ll get to stroke Koala’s and pat Wallaby’s.  If wilder animals are more your thing you won’t be disappointed -  there’s Croc’s, Tasmanian Devils, and Dingo’s.  The tour stops once more before the Blue Mountains at a town called Leura.  it’s a sleepy place with quaint cafes and shops.

The three sisters rock formation in the Blue Mountains, which is truly stunning.

Once at the Blue Mountains you’ll be amazed.  The best known rock formation is the 3 sisters – best viewed from the village of Katoomba.  That’s the location of Scenic World, a ‘theme park’ style way of travelling round the floor – known as the Jamison Valley.  You scan travel down via the coal rail – the steepest in the world, and travel back up via the cableway.  It descends over 1600ft above the valley floor and provides  a spectacular view.  If you have time and you want a less touristy view of the Blue Mountains head to Govotts Leap.  The panorama is magnificent and the tour delivers you back to Circular Quay for 6pm.  It’s a great day out. 

For a meal with a difference head to Cafe Sydney.  It’s on the 5th floor of Customs House on Alfred St.  You’d never just stumble across it but it captures Sydney with it’s harbour view, delicious food, an outdoor terrace, cocktail lounge and a real contemporary interior.  There is so much more to do in Sydney but our time had come to an end and now it was time for a bit of luxury in the beautiful surroundings of Hamilton Island.

Days 9-13 – Hamilton Island

Arriving at Hamilton Island is an experience like no other.  There are no conveyor belts full of luggage – just a metal trolley to pick your own off.  I hear the airport are desperate for a luggage belt but I liked the island like feel of collecting your own.  After that it’s loaded onto a golf buggy, which apart from a small island bus is the only way to get around.  You might have heard of Hamilton Island when it hit the headlines last year advertising the ‘Best Job in the World’.  A caretaker needed to look after islands that make up the Great Barrier Reef.  Tough job hey! 

It’s a privately owned Island and the Oatley family have put in time and money to make it feel as special as it is.  Made up of private homes, holiday lets, self catering bungalows and hotels there really is something to suit everyone.  Qualia is the newest addition to the island with world class luxury, situated in the secluded northern-most tip of the island.  It immerses you into a relaxed atmosphere with a personalised service and immediately relaxes you – it’s what they call the Qualia effect, and everyone needs to experience that once in a while.

February is the Whitsunday’s wet season and yes rain did fall whilst we were there.  But it would take more than rain to spoil this location.  September is actually the best time to visit to see hundreds of whales passing through the resort.  We checked in at the 4 star Reef View Hotel on the Island with spectacular views over the sparking Coral Sea, but Hamilton Island is more than an Island.  You can lie on the fantastic beaches and soak up the sun or experience any of the bare essentials.  In at number one would have to be a trip to Whitehaven Beach, only 15 minutes away by boat.  It’s a place that has to be seen to be believed, with its dazzling sea and white sand – it’s the stuff of postcards.  You could take a leisurely walk up Passage Peak for spectacular views, snorkel the Great Barrier Reef, take a tropical sunset cruise on the Banjo Patterson or have a game of golf at the new Hamilton Island Golf Club. 

This stunning new yacht club on Hamilton Island is one of the most beautiful places on earth.

We took a trip over to the course on Dent Island by water taxi, now I’m no golfer believe me, but the views are breathtaking and the lunch in the newly built clubhouse is a perfect location to take them in whilst enjoying a glass of wine.  For families with children, there are plenty of water sports, trips and even a special place to eat.  You can start the day by hugging a koala and enjoying a hearty breakfast in the Koala Gallery.  For couples the Bommie Restaurant at the newly built Yacht Club is beautiful.  It’s hosted a range of weddings to very showbiz events such as Audi’s Race Week, the Great Barrier Feast, and the Hamilton Cup.

After 3 day’s that’s it – our trip is over and it’s back to Manchester.  With heavy hearts and sulky lips we made our way via Virgin Blue back to Melbourne to meet our Qatar flight home. 

I started this holiday and review with the question in mind, Australia in 2 weeks????  And now I have the answer.  Absolutely, why not, completely possible, yes, yes, yes.  Australia isn’t as far as it used to be and boy what a place it is.  With Qatar’s new flights from the North, there is no excuse not to visit this vast and incredible Country.  And whilst 2 weeks is brief, it’s more than enough time to see so much of the place and get a real feel for Australia.  Don’t put off today what you could be doing tomorrow – get out there and book it.

I guarantee you won’t regret it.

For more Australian holiday ideas visit our Travel Section. Embrace Australia is the place to be for all news and updates on Australian immigration, travel and culture. Our lively and friendly online forum is a place where you can make new friends, debate current issues and just chat about life in general.

The yellow spotted bell frog previously assumed to be extinct.

Australia is a country full of some of the most exotic and rare animals in the world. Now excited scientists have discovered that a frog, previously thought extinct, is alive and well and thriving in Australia.

The yellow spotted bell frog was thought to have been extinct since the mid 1970s when its environment was largely destroyed by agriculture. However Fisheries field scientist Luke Pearce located a whole community of the creatures in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales. The exact location of the community is being kept under wraps to protect the frogs.

NSW Environment Minister Frank Sartor said the finding was as significant as discovering the Tasmanian tiger. “This discovery is a reminder of the need to protect this environment so future generations can enjoy the noise and colour of our native animals.”

The frogs were first spotted in 2008 but confirmation was needed to identify the species as the yellow spotted bell frog, that confirmation has now come through and the scientists are delighted. There are now plans to breed the frogs in captivity for release into the wild and further strengthening their numbers.

However the frog is just one success in a story where others are not so lucky. The International Union for Conservation of Nature estimate that one third of the world’s population of amphibians are under threat of extinction, largely due to destruction of their natural habitats. In fact many new species of frog are still being discovered as Mike Tyler from the University of Adelaide confirms: “In the last decade, three new species of frog have been discovered in the Kimberley.” He went on to add that further species have been discovered in the Northern Territory.

It’s another argument on the side of environmentalists who currently oppose the Rudd government’s plans to increase Australian immigration numbers and population. Protestors argue that any increase in population will lead to further destruction of vital natural habitat for such endangered creatures.

Tony Abbott was left contemplating a night in the bush.

The leader of the Australian opposition party, Tony Abbott, sparked a major security alert this week when he went missing in the outback for several hours.

Mr Abbott had been on a quad bike tour 350km west of Alice Springs to discuss opportunities for Aboriginal landowners. He left Kings Creek Station with a small group including two Australian journalists, to search for sacred Aboriginal sites.

The group became detached from their guide, pastoralist Ian Conway when Mr Conway and an Aboriginal landowner went off in search of a bush narcotic – all in the name of research of course! After a couple of hours passed with no sign of them returning and with no real idea of how to get back to Kings Creek Station, the group attempted to reach their base via satellite phone failed as no-one was quite sure how to work it. It was the same with the mobile phone when Mr Abbott attempted to text his press secretary Claire Kimball. He couldn’t figure out how to put spaces in between the words and in the end, the text, reading “WERELOSTNEARFOSSILCREEK” failed to send.

The group were contemplating surviving the cold of an outback night dressed in only t-shirts and shorts when Mr Conway finally re-appeared and the group finally made it back in the dark. Just what had kept Mr Conway and his Aboriginal friend so long is a mystery and no-one knows if they found their narcotic plant.

Suggestions that Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, alarmed by the upturn in the polls in Mr Abbotts favour, had planned the whole thing are completely unfounded of course!

Mr Abbott’s political career nearly came to an abrupt end just last month when he was involved in a near collision with a truck on a treacherous stretch of the Princes Highway in Victoria. Luckily the truck, which had been threatening to overturn onto Mr Abbotts car, managed to stay upright and pull onto the hard shoulder. Ironically Mr Abbott was in the area to deliver a briefing on road safety.

Recent opinion polls show a plunge in Kevin Rudd’s popularity whilst the maverick Mr Abbott has a 45% approval rating, which is up by 34% from December. Mr Rudd may have been hoping no doubt, that Mr Abbott stayed lost, just until after the election!

Read all the latest news on Australia immigration, travel and culture with us and join in our friendly discussions and debates with our online forum. Embrace Australia is THE website of choice for all those wanting to emigrate to Australia, travel or just love Australia.

The Pilbara mine where resentment over migrant workers is mounting.

The Australian government, possibly responding to recent criticism over the usage of migrant workers over local Australians, yesterday issued a statement that urged employers to consider local labour first.

The government stated that migrant workers on temporary skilled visas must not be used as a substitute for local workers and that they should only be employed if skilled labour cannot be found within the local population. They stated that: “Our priority is to provide training and job opportunities for Australians.”

In September of last year the government introduced measures in the Migration Legislation Amendment Act that were designed to protect the migrant worker from exploitation and prevent employers from using immigrants as cheap labour in place of local workers. The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) was able to glean information from the Australian Tax Office to ensure that migrant workers received fair salaries on a par with their local counterparts.

Other authorities such as health and safety organisations and the Fair Work Ombudsman were also able to share information with the DIAC. It was hoped that this would make it harder for employers to break the rules.

The laws came into place on the 1^st of January this year and entitled all new and existing workers on subclass 457 visas to be paid market rates. Any employer found breaching those rules were liable for fines of up to $33,000.

The government released figures with its statement yesterday that showed that almost 90% of temporary skilled migrant workers who were issued 457 subclass visas in the first seven months of 2009 were managers and professional workers. They also claim that the average salary for migrant workers had increased by $10,000 to $100,000 per year.

In Western Australia where there is currently a mining boom and a shortage of local workers, the average salary was found to be $165,500 for immigrants working in the mining industry.

The figures also show that the number of visa applications that were granted is also down. Primary visa grants for January 2010 were 45% lower than January 2009 and for subclass 457 visas the figure was a 13% decrease. There was also a decline in visa applications. Government statistics show that subclass 457 primary visa applications were down by 31% from January 2009-2010. Figures also indicate a general downward trend in applications from the date of the Migration Legislation Amendment Act in September. The statistical report states that: “In general, application rates have been steadily decreasing as employers become familiar with the new requirements.”

The figures released by the government come just after news that tensions in the Pilbara at Cape Preston near Karratha in Western Australia are escalating after 54 Australian workers were sacked at a Chinese-owned iron ore project whilst 70 Filipino workers were kept on.

And last month Labour backbencher Kelvin Thomson criticised a government discussion paper praising the Northern Territory and Western Australia for their usage of temporary migrant workers. Mr Thompson said that young Australians were missing out on employment because of the continued use of migrant workers.

So what do you think? Are employers still taking on migrant workers over local workers? Perhaps you are a local skilled worker unable to find work, or are you a migrant worker who appreciates the opportunity given to you by Australian employers. Whatever your situation, we’d like to hear from you – fill out the comments box below or join our online forum for discussions and chat.