Budget 2005-06 > What's New What's Different > Other Measures
Migration Programme
Increase of up to 20,000 Skilled Places
- Two-Stage Skilled Designated Area Sponsored Visa
What's New?
The Government will provide funding for two measures to increase skilled migration in 2005-06 and improve skilled migration arrangements.The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs will increase the number of Skill stream places in the 2005-06 Migration (non-Humanitarian) Programme by up to 20,000. This measure will require benefits and services funded by the Family and Community Services portfolio to be provided to the additional permanent migrants.
The second measure will improve the effectiveness of the existing arrangements for Skilled Designated Area Sponsored Visas. A two-stage process will be established to encourage better dispersal of skilled migrants to designated areas. This measure will result in savings of $26.9 million over four years in the Family and Community Services portfolio, due to a reduction in the number of migrants claiming social security payments.
These are cross-portfolio measures involving the Departments of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, Family and Community Services, Education, Science and Training, Employment and Workplace Relations and Health and Ageing.
Implementation
- Increase of up to 20,000 Skilled Places - 1 July 2005.
- Two-Stage Skilled Designated Area Sponsored Visa - 1 January 2007.