While it seems that Australian's are resisting the lure to move across the country to fill thousands of highly-paid job vacancies in the resources sector, foreign workers aren't hesitating, flooding in to Western Australia on 457 temporary work visas and answering the call to resolve Australia's skills shortage.

The Australian reported today that since the beginning of this financial year, the number of visas granted for workers bound for WA leaped by 88 per cent to 13,250 with the majority of these workers being managers, professionals or skilled tradespeople.

Similar growth has been experieced in Queensland, with the resource sector also responsible for the 73 per cent growth in the number of 457 visas granted for workers in the Sunshine State where 9300 visas have been granted so far this year.

Not surprisingly, the majority of these workers are coming out of the United Kingdom, Philippines, Ireland and the United States, where their economies are under strain and unemployment is uncomfortably high.

To read more at The Australian, click here (sponsored link).

Have you got your sights set on Australia and want to learn more about skilled and 457 temporary work visas? Contact Australian Migration & Visa Lawyers today, our Registered Migration Agents specialise in all visa categories and can provide expert advice and assistance with your visa application.

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Successful overseas investors and entrepreneurs will soon be targeted by Australia's Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), with an announcement by Chris Bowen MP (Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) and Bill Shorten MP (Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation) announcing new visa reforms for migrants who could make an investment of at least $5 million AUD to the Australian economy.

According to Mr Bowen, "the Significant Investor visa will provide a boost to our economy and help Australia to compete effectively for high net worth individuals seeking investment immigration."

The new visa aims to make migrating to Australia easier for investors by removing the requirement to meet a points test and reduced residence requirements.

Australia's Business Skills visa program is also being reformed to boost the volume of applicants to the program, renaming the program the 'Business Innovation and Investment program' and introducing measures including; reducing the visa subclasses from 13 to 3 and allowing business migrants to extend their provisional visa should they need additional time to establish their business in Australia before applying for permanent residence.

The Significant Investor visa will be introduced in the 2012-13 program year, while the new Business Innovation and Investment visas will be integrated with the skilled migrant selection model, SkillSelect,commencing on 1 July 2012.

Are you interested in applying for a Business visa? Contact us to speak to one of our professional Registered Migration Agents. We specialise in ALL visa categories, including Business visas and offer professional visa assistance and advice.

Australia is the 'happiest' industrialised nation in the world, topping the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) Better Life Index. Comparing well-being across countries based on 11 topics the OECD has identified as essential in the areas of material living conditions and quality of life.

Being the only major developed nation to have avoided a recession in the global financial crisis, mostly thanks to a timely resources boom Australia, Australia ranks significantly highly in most of the 11 Better Life Index topics including, jobs, housing, community, education, environment, health and life satisfaction.

Jobs-wise, over 72% of people aged 15 to 64 in Australia have a paid job, above the OECD employment average of 66%, and work less hours per year than most people in the OECD.

High water and air quality contribute significantly to Australia's high health rating with the level of atmospheric tiny air pollutant particles small enough to enter and cause damage to the lungs considerably lower than the OECD average and 92% of people say that they are satisfied with the quality of their water.

For a full explanation of the OECD's Better Life Index and a break-down of Australia's ratings in each of the 11 topics, click here.

Do you want to migrate to Australia? We can help! Contact us to speak to one of our friendly and professional Registered Migration Agents and get your migration to the happiest country in the world started today.