News Flash

Australia's population to hit 23 million next week

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Australia's population is about to hit 23 million people, due next week, according to the Australia Bureau of Statistics. Whether the 23 millionth Australian is a migrant or a newborn Australian baby remains to be seen, but according to The Australian, there's a good chance that it could be a baby boy called Jack, or a young migrant from the United Kingdom;

The Australian Bureau of Statistics says the nation's population is set to hit 23 million people on April 23 at 9.57pm (AEST), but there's only a 40 per cent chance he or she will be home grown.

Migrants make up 60 per cent of Australia's population growth and the UK accounts for one in five arrivals.

If number 23,000,000 is born locally, there's a slightly better chance of it being a boy, with 105 males born for every 100 females, and Jack their most popular name.

Australia's population is increasing by 1048 people per day, or by 1.7 per cent a year, which equates to one new Canberra or three new Darwins per year.

The ABS now forecasts the population will exceed 40 million in the late 2050s.

Australia's median age has increased nearly five years from 32.7 to 37.5.

Western Australia is the fastest growing state, while Tasmania's population growth rate is contracting.

Tasmania's population increased by just 500 people last year, while WA is now growing by more than 1500 people per week.

More people are moving interstate to Queensland, while NSW had the highest departures to other states, with 1900 people leaving each week.

If you're considering becoming an Australian citizen and would like professional assistance or advice, contact our team of Registered Migration Agents at AMVL Migrations. We specialise in all visa categories, including Australian citizenship, and would be happy to assist you with your migration needs.

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Property Council submits plan to attract unemployed skilled migrants to South Australia

Monday, April 15, 2013

In a bid to attract more skilled migrants to South Australia, the South Australian Property Council has proposed that skilled workers from countries struggling through a recession should be offered low-interest home loans and relocation costs as an incentive to migrate and settle in the southern state.

Adelaide Now recently reported on the Property Council's suggestions to the South Australian Government, including a new visa and increased conversion rates to permanent residency;

In its State Budget submission, the council wants the State Government to increase the conversion rate of international students to permanent residents and target skilled unemployed Europeans in countries in economic crisis.

It also wants the introduction of a new visa to speed up the process of recognising the skills of new arrivals to help them find work sooner.

The state's population grew by just 1 per cent, or about 16,500 people, in the 12 months to the end of the September last year, compared with 1.7 per cent nationally.

The greatest contributor to population growth was overseas migration, adding 11,300 people to the state.

In a pre-Budget submission, Property Council of Australia (SA) executive director Nathan Paine said the state faced a "skills deficit" when economic conditions improve if it did not grow its population.

Mr Paine urged the State Government to lobby its federal counterpart for a special expedited visa to attract unemployed skilled workers from "economically-ravaged economies", such as Italy, Spain and Greece and Portugal.

The SA Government should run a campaign in those countries to encourage migration to SA, with incentives including low-interest home loans and lower relocation costs, he said.

In return, migrants would have to stay in SA for at least five years or forfeit the money.

To read the full article at Adelaide Now, click here.

Do you want to apply for an Australia visa? Contact AMVL Migrations to speak to one of our Registered Migration Agents (RMA). Our RMAs specialise in all visa categories and can offer professional assistance and advice to those wishing to migrate to Australia.

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Northern Territory desperate for 457 visa workers

Thursday, April 11, 2013

The argument for Australia's 457 visa continues. Businesses in the Northern Territory and the Northern Territory (NT) government itself have made pleas to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) to allow them to bring hundreds of foreign workers in to the rapidly growing state. With many major NT projects moving forward, businesses are frantically training local workers to work on these projects, however there are still major skills shortages to address immediately.

ABC News recently reported on the NT's need for more 457 visas;

There aren't enough local workers for new projects coming online in the Top End, Darwin construction and engineering businesses have said.

The Territory Government is pursuing a regional migration agreement that would allow 200 foreign workers to come to the Territory under 457 visas.

DAC Enterprises managing director Douglas Taylor said many of his staff were completing training to increase their skills base.

"As projects grow, we can be up to 10-15 people behind, so that's why we've committed the training and committed to trying to get on top of it, so it's a constant struggle," Mr Taylor said.

But he said there was still a need for many more 457 workers.

"We train hard. We advertise hard," he said.

"We give a lot of incentives for people but we're still always finding it hard, we're always under-staffed.

"So to try and grow a company up here, I think the 457 has to come into it to pick up the shortfall of what you can't get local."

Business Minister Dave Tollner said the Territory wanted to start off with 200 workers, covering 17 different occupations.

"We've got some big projects coming up," Mr Tollner said.

"We are doing everything we possibly can to train and skill up our own ... but it's just not going to be enough.

"We need at least 200 extra workers over the next 12 months, and for that reason, you know, I'm praying that the Federal Government can come up with some sort of decision on this rather quickly."

"My concerns are that the Federal Government is captive to some of the extreme movements across Australia and are reluctant to sign off on new regional migration schemes," he said.

"But we will keep pressuring them because the Territory does need workers to grow."

To read the story in full at ABC News, click here.

To seek assistance or advice for applying for a subclass 457 employer sponsored visa, contact the team of Registered Migration Agents at AMVL Migrations. We specialise in all Australia visa categories and can assist both applicants and businesses throughout the sponsorship process.

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Australia's population to hit 23 million next week

Property Council submits plan to attract unemployed skilled migrants to South Australia

Northern Territory desperate for 457 visa workers

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