May 17, 2010 12:00AM
THE Rudd government has cut by more than half
the number of prized occupations and professions listed in the
skilled migration program. <!--
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In a major rationalisation, Immigration Minister Chris Evans
will today unveil a new list of just 181 skills, professions and
occupations - down from the 400 cited in the old list.
Butter makers, journalists, script editors, fashion designers,
intelligence officers, cooks and hairdressers are among those
culled. But other, more specialised, professions - such as
pharmacists - have also been dumped.
Senator Evans said the new list was part of an ongoing attempt
by the government to decouple the link between education and
immigration.
"Australia's migration program cannot be determined by the
courses studied by international students," he said in a media
release yesterday.
Senator Evans said that of the 41,000 general skilled visas
granted in 2007-08, more than 5000 went to cooks and hairdressers,
three-quarters of whom had studied in Australia.
The new list was developed by Skills Australia, an independent
body, and will be updated annually.
Senator Evans said the new list was developed in consultation
with industry groups and was focused on those skills required in
the medium to long term.
He said the onus remained on training Australian workers to fill
skills gaps.
The new leaner skills list is likely to draw a fiery response
from the parts of the education sector specialising in offering
cheap vocational courses to foreign students whose principal goal
is the acquiring of Australian residency.
Yesterday, Senator Evans acknowledged the new list may dash the
hopes of some foreign students. "The government recognises the
proposed changes would affect some overseas students currently in
Australia intending to apply for permanent residence," he said.
In February, he announced that 20,000 prospective migrants who
applied before a tightening of the rules in September would have
their applications rejected and their fees refunded.
Mindful of the impact on what has become a highly lucrative
industry, Senator Evans said international students with
much-needed skills would still be welcome.
"But we . . . will no longer accept the thousands of cooks and
hairdressers who applied under the guidelines established by the
Howard government."
PAUL MALEY
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/hairdressers-out-as-migrant-skills-list-gets-a-trim/story-e6frg6nf-1225867467454