The changes are a 14 per cent cut in the 2008-09 permanent skilled migration program intake [from 133 500 to 115 000], and changes to the Critical Skills List (CSL).
The Minister’s announcement said that occupations removed from the Critical Skills List include Bricklayers, Carpenters, Plumbers, Welders, and Metal Fitters, and that the list will now comprise mainly health and medical, engineering and IT professions.

The changes to this new CSL are that all trades occupations (ASCO Group 4) have been removed except:

• Aircraft Maintenance Engineer – Avionics
• Aircraft Maintenance Engineer – Mechanical
• Electronic Equipment Trades
• Gasfitter
• Wall and Floor Tiler

The Minister has stated that “The Critical Skills List will remain under constant review and the Government will remove occupations from the list if demand for those skills can be satisfied by local labour.”

We can therefore expect the Critical Skills List to be under continual review and changes can be expected at any time, depending on current economic circumstances.

Processing implications:

As of now, only General Skilled Migration applications which are State/Territory sponsored, or which have nominated occupations on the new Critical Skills List will be processed. There will be no visa grants to other applicants until further notice, which is not likely to be before 1 July 2009, and may be much longer.

Please note: The fact that DIAC is now only processing General Skills Migration applications which are State/Territory sponsored, or which have nominated occupations on the new Critical Skills List does not mean that other GSM applications cannot be lodged. This is simply a method of prioritising the processing so that the Government can better address the current skills shortages in the current economic climate. GSM applications which are not on the processing priority list can still be lodged.

GSM applications which are not on the priority processing lists may have a very long wait, not only because of the processing priority lists, but also because of the 14 per cent cut in the 2008-09 permanent skilled migration program intake from 133 500 to 115 000, and also because of imminent staff cuts across the Commonwealth Public Service, including DIAC. The length of the wait for non-priority applications is something that no-one, including DIAC, can estimate with any accuracy. I am sure this is not what you will want to hear, but it is the truth of the matter.

All these towns and cities are included in the areas under Regional Australia (except Newcastle and Wollongong) and can therefore be considered by all applicants looking to utilize one of the following visas;

“475” Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Off-shore applicant)

“487” Skilled – Regional Sponsored (On-shore applicant)

“887” Skilled – Regional (On-shore applicant).

“457″ Business (Long Stay) Sponsored Temporary 4 year visa can also use the Regional Area definition should the sponsoring employer have their business located in a Regional Area and the sponsored employee is employed and lives in that Regional Area. The employer in the Regional Area can apply for certification and gain wage relief with the local Regional Certifying Body (RCB).

It is also a consideration for the “417” Working Holiday and the “462” Work & Holiday visas, where, if the applicant wants to stay for a second year, they must work in a Regional Area of Australia for 3 months, fruit picking, working on a farm or using their skills in the construction arena.

Queensland.

Bundaberg – 48,000
Cairns – 100,000
Gladstone – 28,000
Hervey Bay – 40,000
Mackay – 60,000
Mt Isa – 25,000
Rockhampton – 65,000
Sunshine Coast – 250,000
Toowoomba – 95,000
Townsville – 120,000

Western Australia.

Albany – 24,000
Bunbury – 45,000
Fremantle – 25,000
Geraldton – 25,000
Gosford – 265,000
Kalgoorlie – 30,000
Mandurah – 50,000
Rockingham – 62,000

New South Wales.

Albury/Wodonga – 75,000
Armidale – 25,000
Bathurst – 30,000
Coffs Harbour – 30,000
Dubbo – 33,000
Gosford – 270,000
Lismore – 27,000
Maitland – 55,000
Newcastle – 285,000 (not included in Regional Australia)
Orange – 33,000
Port Macquarie – 40,000
Richmond – 27,000
Tamworth – 35,000
Wagga Wagga – 45,000
Wollongong – 235,000 (not included in Regional Australia)

Victoria.

Ballarat – 80,000
Bendigo – 70,000
Geelong – 135,000
Mildura – 30,000
Shepparton – 35,000
Traralgon – 20,000
Warrnambool – 26,000

South Australia.

Gawler – 16,000
Mt Gambier – 23,000
Pt Lincoln – 12,000

Tasmania.

Burnie – 20,000
Devonport – 22,000
Launceston – 68,000

Northern Territory.

Alice Springs – 27,000
Palmerston – 25,000