Highlightsof 2009 Federal Budget on the Migration Program
• TheMigration Program will total 168,700 places for 2009-10.
• TheFederal Government's 2009 Budget has made a further cut to the permanentskilled migration intake to 108,000 places for the 2009-10 program (a 20%reduction to the previous budget)
• Thereduction will be achieved largely through cutbacks in the General SkilledCategory
• Ajob-readiness test will be introduced for onshore skilled applicants
• TheGovernment will be increasing the English language requirement for tradesoccupation to IELTS 6 from 1 July 2009 for offshore applicants and 1 January2010 for onshore applicants
• Therewill be fewer visas granted to trade level occupations
• Therewill be an increase in family migration places to 60,300, including addition2500 for partners, 1000 for contributory parents and 300 for child visas
• Increasedhumanitarian Program to 13,750 (7750 Special Humanitarian and 6000 refugee)
• Increasedfunding to improve detention centres
• DIACstaff reductions
• Increasedcosts for DIAC to establish the new Office of the MARA
Full detailsof the Government's Budget statements can be found at:http://www.immi.gov.au/about/reports/budget/budget09/budget09pbs.htm