With the Australian Federal election having been called today, we thought it would be interesting to compare the parties’ recent comments about immigration policy. To access the full document, please click on the highlighted links below.
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THE GILLARD GOVERNMENT
Extract from presentation by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, at the Population Australia 2050 Summit, 28 June [...]

DIAC has confirmed that its previously  announced changes affecting the GSM program will come into effect on 1 July 2010.
 
The post on its website reads as follows:
 
Previously announced changes affecting the GSM program will come into effect on 1 July 2010.  

See: Changes to the General Skilled Migration Program 

 If you are intending to apply online for [...]

Australia’s Federal Budget for 2010-11 was brought down this evening and in summary the main impact on the migration program during that period will be:

 The overall size of the migration program will remain unchanged at 168 700 places. 
This figure will consist of a total skill stream (which includes employer sponsored and business skills applicants) of 113,850, a [...]

DIAC has temporarily, and with no prior warning, suspended the acceptance of new applications from primary applicants for subclass 175 Skilled Independent, Subclass 176 – Skilled Sponsored and Subclass 475 – Skilled Regional Sponsored visa applications.

DIAC has issued advice to intending migrants that the Australian government does not endorse any business broker organisation to sell Australian businesses to potential business migrants.
There is no Australian government approved list of businesses for potential business migrants to purchase.
Business owners, investors or senior executives overseas who intend to migrate to Australia, will not be [...]