Migration to Australia will be Economic Policy, Not Welfare Policy
Coming down heavily on agents and companies misusing the country’s 457 visa program, the Australian Immigration Minister Scott Morrison pointed out that the immigration system was in dire need of “stability” and clarified that migration could only be an "economic policy” and not a “welfare policy."
Speaking at
the Migration Institute of Australian in Canberra, Mr Morrison issued a stern
warning, saying that anyone who abuses provisions of the 457 visa program will
be punished, just as harshly as people smugglers.
The Coalition government in Australian which assumed power last month has hardened its position against illegal immigrants, particularly the asylum-seeking boat people. But dealing with the 457 visa program, in his address, Mr Morrison made it clear, that employers recruiting overseas could expect stricter measures to be in place, in the coming months.
Following
allegations of rampant violations of the 457 skilled visa provisions, former
Labor government in Australia had alleged that employers were not recruiting
among local Australians before seeking candidates overseas. Former Prime
Minister Julia Gillard had gone to the extent of terming the system as
"out of control."
Following the allegations, the government began a major crackdown on offenders.
The modified
provisions have already hurt Indian companies hard, impacting their
bottom-line, as they face restriction on recruiting workers from India.
Attempting
to mollify sentiments among skilled migrants, Mr Morrison alleged that the
former Labor government had wrongly “demonised” skilled migrants coming to
Australia under the scheme.
Seeking to
widen the debate, Mr Morrison said, all Australians were migrants unless they
had a lineage linked to the indigenous population. Foreigners migrating to
Australia would always be a strong part of the country.
The nation
was such a success because of those people who had moved to it, he said.
Mr Morrison said the government was pitching hard for the significant investor visa program, declaring that it was his goal to widen that scheme and attract more big businesses into Australia.
In his address, the minister also touched upon the question of student visas.
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