Immigration focus at community forum in Sydney’s inner west
The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, chaired a community forum in Sydney's inner west last night to discuss immigration issues.
About 200 people attended the Marrickville forum where they had an opportunity to raise matters with the minister.
The minister addressed a number of issues including recent changes for temporary skilled overseas workers, migrant settlement services and Australia's humanitarian program.
Senator Evans outlined recent changes to the temporary skilled overseas worker program (subclass 457 visas) designed to protect the rights of temporary overseas workers and ensure Australian wages and conditions are not undermined.
New worker protection laws that came into effect on 14 September require that all new workers on subclass 457 visas are paid market salary rates. Employers currently paying less than the market salary rate to temporary skilled overseas workers have until 1 January 2010 to commence paying market rates.
The laws also enable the Australian Taxation Office to disclose information to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) in order to ensure correct salary levels are being paid to visa holders. Information will also be able to be shared with other enforcement bodies including the Fair Work Ombudsman and occupational health and safety agencies.
The government's package of subclass 457 reforms strengthens the integrity of the temporary skilled visa program by ensuring it is responsive to market rates, while protecting the employment opportunities for Australians and the rights of overseas workers.
The minister detailed the government's permanent skilled migration program intake which has been reduced to 108 100 places for 2009-10 to take into account the changed economic conditions.
The family component for this year is 60 300 places which includes an additional 2500 places for partners, 1000 places for contributory parents and 300 for child visas.
Senator Evans said Australia will also welcome 13 750 people under its humanitarian program in 2009-10 with the main resettlement focus on refugees from the three key regions of Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
The minister said DIAC assists refugees and humanitarian entrants with a range of settlement support services that are focused on building self-sufficiency, developing English language skills and facilitating connections with mainstream services to help them settle in Australia and become contributing members of the community as soon as possible.
URL: http://www.minister.immi.gov.au
/media/media-releases/2009/ce09092.htm
Last update: 28 September 2009 at 14:17 AEST