We are frequently approached by people who have been sponsored on a subclass 457 visa, and are seeking advice on obtaining permanent residency (PR). Many have heard of the Employer Nomination Scheme, or ENS, but are not clear how they can use their 457 visa to gain PR through that pathway.
The 457 visa
The Subclass 457 [...]

With Australian cities ranking between 24th (Sydney) and 74th (Perth) in its cost of living scale, Australia is the best value destination of expats in the Asia Pacific Region, according to Mercer’s Worldwide Cost of Living Survey, 2010.
Reflecting the increasing economic importance of the African region, the world’s most expensive city for expatriates was Luanda, [...]

DIAC has now officially advised that from 1 July,  Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (… will be used within skilled visa programs, as the standard by which a visa applicant’s skills to undertake a specific occupation in Australia are assessed. 
DIAC has also advised how the transitional arrangements will work – in other words, [...]