Monday, 17 May 2010
The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, today announced a new Skilled Occupation List (SOL) designed to deliver highly skilled migrants and crackdown on people seeking permanent residency through low-value education courses.
Senator Evans said the list, developed by the independent body Skills Australia and containing 181 highly valued occupations, would ensure Australia’s skilled migration program is demand-driven rather than supply-driven.
‘We intend to fundamentally change the way we target skilled migrants to restore integrity to the skilled migration program,’ Senator Evans said.
‘Through a targeted migration program, the Rudd Government will attract skilled migrants of the highest calibre and deliver people with real skills to meet real need in our economy.’
The new SOL is a critical reform in the Government’s overhaul of the skilled migration program and closes the door on those seeking to manipulate the migration system.
