The Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME) and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA (CCIWA) have slammed a union rally held in Perth's CBD yesterday, where several unions demanded that major resource companies invest more in youth training resort less to employing skilled workers from overseas.

Some of the unions even alleged that some mining companies were employing workers cheaply on tourist visas, allegations that were firmly denied and described as "wrong" by CME and CCIWA.

As reported by Perth Now;

WA business groups have slammed yesterday's union rally, saying arguments over skilled migration are out-dated and causing "unnecessary public fear" about Aussie jobs.

“It’s completely wrong to suggest that people coming to work in WA from overseas are driving down wages,” CME chief executive Reg Howard-Smith said.

“The Department of Immigration and Citizenship require all skilled migrants to receive the same pay and conditions as Australian employees.

“Industry’s first priority is employing local people.

“Skilled migration is actually an expensive last resort particularly when you consider overseas recruitment searches, relocation expenses and paying Australian wages and conditions.

“It’s good economics and good business to utilise Australian employees first.”

The CME is predicting a skills shortage in WA of more than 30,000 in the next 12 to 18 months.

“WA is experiencing a massive pipeline of private investment flowing into the State, but we simply don’t have enough local workers with the skills required to build and run those projects.

“Without a combination of interstate and overseas skilled immigration, coupled with quality training for local employees, we won’t meet the demand for these massive projects.”

To read more, click here.

The Australian Migration & Visa Lawyers (AMVL) Employment Network recognises the major skills shortages being experienced across Australia, particularly in Western Australia and Queensland. We work with both Australian employers and skilled overseas workers to facilitate their migration needs and facilitate the visa process for both parties. To register your interest to become a free member of the AMVL Employment Network click here or email jobs@australianmigrations.com.

With further hints at changes to Australian migration in July next year, Immigration Minister Chris Bowen has announced that student visa fees will be discounted by 5 per cent next year, but other immigration fees will rise.

As reported by The Australian, Mr Bowen said this morning that the cut in the application fee for a student visa would increase "the competitiveness of Australia's international education sector''.

However, there will be new fees for dependants and higher fees for skilled migration visa applications as well as for those who apply for visas by paper rather than by the electronic e-visa system.

These are increased costs that may be incurred by overseas students.

Also, a cost of living increase would apply to the "majority'' of visa application fees from July 2012. It was not immediately clear whether or not student visas will be among those to be increased in line with the CPI.

The rationale for the changes, announced as part of Treasurer Wayne Swan's mid-year economic review, was to ensure that taxpayers were no longer subsidising visa costs without damaging the competitives of the export education industry.

Also in the mid-year economic review, the government allocates $3.6m over four years to streamline the student visa system and underpin its integrity.

Measures include a new "double genuine" test for would-be students, a review of the risk assessment level system and post-study work rights for overseas students at university.

To read the full article at The Australian, click here.

If you want to submit your visa application before proposed visa changes next year and would like assistance and advice, contact Australian Migration & Visa Lawyers to speak to one of our friendly Registered Migration Agents. Alternatively, click here to submit a free visa assessment.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has announced that it will start processing a number of General Skilled Migration (GSM) Priority 5 applications this year.

There are approximately 27,347 onshore and 15,284 offshore applications in the Priority 5 group with around 1000 priority applications given to case officers each week.

DIAC has advised the following;

Processing of Priority Group 5 applications lodged in Australia will begin with the remaining applications in the visa subclasses in effect prior to September 2007, the oldest of which was lodged on 28 July 2005. There are approximately 756 cases in this group.

Processing of Priority Group 5 applications lodged outside Australia will begin with applications in visa subclasses 495 and 496, which were lodged prior to 1 September 2007, the oldest of which was lodged on 10 July 2006. Unlike other GSM visa applications lodged from outside Australia, prior to 1 September 2007, these applications were not affected by the Minister's Cap and Cease arrangements. There are approximately 594 cases in this group.

The number of Priority Group 5 applications processed this program year will ultimately depend on the number of higher priority applications received, and other factors including any change in the size of the Migration Program or variation of the Processing Direction. Many Priority Group 5 applicants still face a considerable wait until their application is allocated to a case officer for processing and may want to consider other options available.

To learn more, click here.

Have you got a migration query? Contact Australian Migration & Visa Lawyers, our friendly and professional Registered Migration Agents can provide migration advice and assistance and specialise in all visa categories.