Australia’s special relationships: NZ character woes; employer sponsored concessions for the UK?

Australia’s special relationships: NZ character woes; employer sponsored concessions for the UK?

New Zealand and the United Kingdom have a close bond with Australia. Over the weekend the media reported dissatisfaction from NZ over its citizens being deported. Meanwhile the UK, in negotiating a Free Trade Agreement, are requesting concessions that might see amendments to the Subclass 482 – Temporary Skill Shortage visa or perhaps even a different visa subclass altogether.

This article clarifies why New Zealanders are over-represented in visa cancellations due to character concerns. It turns out that having a special visa might not be so special after all.

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DAMA occupation lists for South Australia and Warrnambool published

DAMA occupation lists for South Australia and Warrnambool published

The occupation lists for South Australia’s two Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs) and the occupation list for Warrnambool’s (DAMA) were recently published along with which occupations will have access to age, skill, salary, and English language concessions and which will have pathway to a permanent visa.

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2019-20 Migration planning levels; SA’s push for migrants; historic GSM and business skills nomination ceilings

2019-20 Migration planning levels; SA’s push for migrants; historic GSM and business skills nomination ceilings

While it was known that Australia’s permanent migration intake would be cut from 190,000 to 160,000 starting in the 2019-20 program year, which visa categories will suffer more can now be determined. Also, a recent Freedom of Information request shows why South Australia requested more migration places and what the nomination ceilings were for each State and Territory for General Skilled Migration and business skills visas.

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Analysis: 491, 494 and 191 visas, the new kids on the block

Analysis: 491, 494 and 191 visas, the new kids on the block

Comprehensive analysis of the policy and ramifications behind the new regional skilled visas: the Subclass 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa, the Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa, and the permanent Subclass 191 – Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa, which will come into effect from 16 November 2019.

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