By Melissa Westwood April 12 2011
Changes to the immigration act have dashed the hopes of many international students of gaining permanent residency in Australia upon completion of their studies.
Introduced in 2010, these changes were designed to limit the number of students staying on in Australia and to refocus immigration policy onto filling the gaps in the labour force which has seen the Commonwealth Skilled Occupation List (SOL) reduced from 400 to 130.
For many students the numbers of job opportunities have disappeared including that of University of Notre Dame communications student, David Lough.
“I came here thinking I was going to have a lot more opportunities than I have,” said Mr Lough.
“It’s a little disheartening that mid-way the rules of the game have changed, especially considering I pay $1000 a term to go here.”
Earlier this year Immigration Minister, Chris Bowen, conducted an interview on ABC Radio National talking about the issue of international students gaining permanent residency.
“...they came to Australia to study, frankly, courses which were designed to maximise their chance for permanent residency – courses such as hairdressing and cookery and others – and when they were removed from the Skilled Occupation List because there wasn’t a view that they were needed, skilled migration in those particular areas, then it did become harder for those people to become permanent residents,” he said.
“I think it’s very important to the nation on a whole range of levels that we have a very strong international student presence in Australia, but I’m also of the view that our skilled migration should be driven by the needs of the economy.”
While some changes to the Immigration Act have made it more difficult for some students to get a visa this is not always the case, said Elda Rizk, the International Student Coordinator at the University of Notre Dame.
“Old regulations emphasised that students had to have full-time work experience that was related to their degree, casual work at Woolworths or Coles didn’t count,” she said.
“Now new changes to regulations allow students who have no work experience to apply for permanent residency.”
Applicants for permanent residency and work or students' visas must prove their competence under the International English Testing System (IELTS), which is relied upon by the Department of Immigration.
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Monday, 2 May 2011
Perth journalist jailed in Burma
by Maddy Howard, 3 April 2011
A Perth journalist has been arrested in Myanmar and kept in Insein prison for 47 days without the opportunity of bail.
Ross Dunkley, publisher of the Myanmar Times, was arrested on the 10th of February for the possession of illegal drugs, detaining a prostitute, and immigration charges.
However he was only allowed to post bail on the 29th of March.
“They would do the trial, and then lock him back up again,” said Mr. Dunkley’s wife, Cynda Dunkley.
“They claimed they he was healthy so there was no reason to let him out.”
Myanmar Times shareholder Dr. Tin Tun Oo is suspected to have been involved with Mr. Dunkley’s arrest and has now replaced Mr. Dunkley as CEO of the company.
After suspicion of his involvement was released in the press, Mr. Oo posted bail for Mr. Dunkley as a way to prove his loyalty to his partner.
The only evidence against Mr. Dunkley is a complainant’s statement about alleged offences.
Mr. Dunkley’s house in Myanmar has two guards who have testified saying the alleged woman was only in the house for 20 minutes.
The taxi driver and next-door neighbours’ guards have also make statements supporting Mr. Dunkley’s denial of the charges, says Mrs Dunkley.
“All of the witnesses have been supportive of the story.
“The woman who made the statement has tried to withdraw it many times, but someone in the junta is pressuring her not to withdraw.
“They don’t want to ‘lose face’,” said Mrs. Dunkley.
The police in Myanmar have agreed to let the complainant drop the charges, but it is suspected that she is too afraid of being locked up by the government to withdraw the statement.
“Corruption is actually a very big problem, it is everywhere, at every level,” said Mee Mee Zaw. said a lecturer at University of Western Australia who specialises in Burmese studies, Mee Mee Zaw..
“There is many politics and conflict of interest in this case.
“The government is favouring other people’s word over Mr. Dunkley’s because of his status in Burma,” she said.
The Australian Embassy has told Mrs. Dunkley that they have to wait until the legal procedures in Burma have been finalised, before they can lobby for him to get taken out of Burma or deported.
It is estimated he could get up to 10 years in prison.
A Perth journalist has been arrested in Myanmar and kept in Insein prison for 47 days without the opportunity of bail.
Ross Dunkley, publisher of the Myanmar Times, was arrested on the 10th of February for the possession of illegal drugs, detaining a prostitute, and immigration charges.
However he was only allowed to post bail on the 29th of March.
“They would do the trial, and then lock him back up again,” said Mr. Dunkley’s wife, Cynda Dunkley.
“They claimed they he was healthy so there was no reason to let him out.”
Myanmar Times shareholder Dr. Tin Tun Oo is suspected to have been involved with Mr. Dunkley’s arrest and has now replaced Mr. Dunkley as CEO of the company.
After suspicion of his involvement was released in the press, Mr. Oo posted bail for Mr. Dunkley as a way to prove his loyalty to his partner.
The only evidence against Mr. Dunkley is a complainant’s statement about alleged offences.
Mr. Dunkley’s house in Myanmar has two guards who have testified saying the alleged woman was only in the house for 20 minutes.
The taxi driver and next-door neighbours’ guards have also make statements supporting Mr. Dunkley’s denial of the charges, says Mrs Dunkley.
“All of the witnesses have been supportive of the story.
“The woman who made the statement has tried to withdraw it many times, but someone in the junta is pressuring her not to withdraw.
“They don’t want to ‘lose face’,” said Mrs. Dunkley.
The police in Myanmar have agreed to let the complainant drop the charges, but it is suspected that she is too afraid of being locked up by the government to withdraw the statement.
“Corruption is actually a very big problem, it is everywhere, at every level,” said Mee Mee Zaw. said a lecturer at University of Western Australia who specialises in Burmese studies, Mee Mee Zaw..
“There is many politics and conflict of interest in this case.
“The government is favouring other people’s word over Mr. Dunkley’s because of his status in Burma,” she said.
The Australian Embassy has told Mrs. Dunkley that they have to wait until the legal procedures in Burma have been finalised, before they can lobby for him to get taken out of Burma or deported.
It is estimated he could get up to 10 years in prison.
My School Anger
By Mitchell Sutton, 2 April 2011
A little over a year on from the release of the Federal Government’s controversial My School website, local Catholic school principals are still not convinced that the criticisms that plagued the system in its first few months have been resolved.
Media furor over the website has died down recently, there is still widespread discontent about the accuracy and necessity of the website, especially in Catholic and independent school circles.
“It’s the sort of data parents are entitled to, but I don’t think it’s revolutionary for them,” Shaun Kenny, headmaster of a local high school in Fremantle claimed in a recent interview.
“The information’s accurate in a sense; the problem is that it’s limited.”
“You’re having one small snapshot to represent what goes on day in and day out,” claimed John Ryan, principal of Saint Patrick’s Primary School.
“I wouldn’t be basing what I read on a website for choosing a school for my own children.”
Earlier concerns that the system inaccurately portrayed the finances of some private schools also appears to remain unaddressed.
“Probably some of the more affluent independent schools have that concern and have more complex financial arrangements,” Mr Kenny stated.
“I think there are some school leaders who believe that their financial information is not accurately represented.”
The My School website was a Federal Government initiative backed by then Education Minister Julia Gillard designed to allow parents of school students to compare the performance and financial data of schools in their area.
There has been widespread criticism of the website from within the education community since its launch on January 28 last year, especially with regards to the financial data of private schools and concerns that the system unfairly stigmatised schools in low socio-economic areas.
In February this year the government declined to publish the financial details of some private schools, after allegations that the system miscalculated the amount of income that they used to pay off loans.
This put off the release of the much vaunted “My School 2.0” which was to contain much of this new financial information.
For some however, criticism seems more focused on the idea of school comparison itself.
“I think there are other factors that contribute to results,” Mr Ryan said.
“I would hate for a school to have a bad name even when they have brilliant programs and are doing a great job.”
A little over a year on from the release of the Federal Government’s controversial My School website, local Catholic school principals are still not convinced that the criticisms that plagued the system in its first few months have been resolved.
Media furor over the website has died down recently, there is still widespread discontent about the accuracy and necessity of the website, especially in Catholic and independent school circles.
“It’s the sort of data parents are entitled to, but I don’t think it’s revolutionary for them,” Shaun Kenny, headmaster of a local high school in Fremantle claimed in a recent interview.
“The information’s accurate in a sense; the problem is that it’s limited.”
“You’re having one small snapshot to represent what goes on day in and day out,” claimed John Ryan, principal of Saint Patrick’s Primary School.
“I wouldn’t be basing what I read on a website for choosing a school for my own children.”
Earlier concerns that the system inaccurately portrayed the finances of some private schools also appears to remain unaddressed.
“Probably some of the more affluent independent schools have that concern and have more complex financial arrangements,” Mr Kenny stated.
“I think there are some school leaders who believe that their financial information is not accurately represented.”
The My School website was a Federal Government initiative backed by then Education Minister Julia Gillard designed to allow parents of school students to compare the performance and financial data of schools in their area.
There has been widespread criticism of the website from within the education community since its launch on January 28 last year, especially with regards to the financial data of private schools and concerns that the system unfairly stigmatised schools in low socio-economic areas.
In February this year the government declined to publish the financial details of some private schools, after allegations that the system miscalculated the amount of income that they used to pay off loans.
This put off the release of the much vaunted “My School 2.0” which was to contain much of this new financial information.
For some however, criticism seems more focused on the idea of school comparison itself.
“I think there are other factors that contribute to results,” Mr Ryan said.
“I would hate for a school to have a bad name even when they have brilliant programs and are doing a great job.”
Rudd talks up CHOGM 2011
By Sarah Pendal 1 April 2011
Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd was in Perth yesterday to discuss this year’s upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
October will see 50 heads of Government, 4 000 members of various international businesses and delegations along with masses of media head to Australia’s west coast.
Mr Rudd spoke to members and guests of the Australian Institute of International Affairs at Burswood calling Perth Australia’s “economic powerhouse”.
High importance was placed upon what he wanted to get out of CHOGM.
“Our interests are to maintain national security. To enhance our national economic growth,” he said.
“Our global interests mean Australia needs to be active in all regions of the world through what I call creative, middle power diplomacy.”
Mr Rudd briefly discussed the Commonwealth-Australian relationship saying that “the Commonwealth of course has a wider relevance to Australian national interests as well”.
With countries in all six continents the Commonwealth boasts a number of powerful facts.
The Commonwealth is home to one third of the world’s population, more than a quarter of the United Nations member countries and five members of the G20.
“Some criticise the Commonwealth as being an outdated remnant of a distant colonial past,” Mr Rudd said.
He says however, they were outdated views.
An event such as CHOGM is seen positively for Perth, displaying the city in an international setting.
Andrew Pickford, member of Australia Day Council WA, said that it is beneficial for Australia being a part of the Commonwealth.
“Benefits (include) linking with other English speaking countries.”
He also said that it helps Australia survive economic and political crisis.
Mr Pickford said majority of Perth citizens will not experience CHOGM first hand but through what is on display- the side events and program showcasing Perth.
Martin Drum, Politics and International Relations Lecturer at University of Notre Dame Australia, said CHOGM will allow for Western Australia to be “put on the map”.
Dr Drum said that Australia does gain from being a part of the Commonwealth.
“We tap into a broader community that is the Commonwealth. Our heritage is derived from the UK system and we have that strong connection to some degree.”
Dr Drum mentioned the changing ties between Australia and Britain.
"Eventually I think Australia will become a republic,” he said.
But neither Mr Pickford nor Dr Drum see the republican debate resurfacing anytime soon.
They see lighter topics, such as the Royal Wedding, being discussed by the media.
Public information sessions about CHOGM will be held at Perth Convention Centre in the coming months.
Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd was in Perth yesterday to discuss this year’s upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
October will see 50 heads of Government, 4 000 members of various international businesses and delegations along with masses of media head to Australia’s west coast.
Mr Rudd spoke to members and guests of the Australian Institute of International Affairs at Burswood calling Perth Australia’s “economic powerhouse”.
High importance was placed upon what he wanted to get out of CHOGM.
“Our interests are to maintain national security. To enhance our national economic growth,” he said.
“Our global interests mean Australia needs to be active in all regions of the world through what I call creative, middle power diplomacy.”
Mr Rudd briefly discussed the Commonwealth-Australian relationship saying that “the Commonwealth of course has a wider relevance to Australian national interests as well”.
With countries in all six continents the Commonwealth boasts a number of powerful facts.
The Commonwealth is home to one third of the world’s population, more than a quarter of the United Nations member countries and five members of the G20.
“Some criticise the Commonwealth as being an outdated remnant of a distant colonial past,” Mr Rudd said.
He says however, they were outdated views.
An event such as CHOGM is seen positively for Perth, displaying the city in an international setting.
Andrew Pickford, member of Australia Day Council WA, said that it is beneficial for Australia being a part of the Commonwealth.
“Benefits (include) linking with other English speaking countries.”
He also said that it helps Australia survive economic and political crisis.
Mr Pickford said majority of Perth citizens will not experience CHOGM first hand but through what is on display- the side events and program showcasing Perth.
Martin Drum, Politics and International Relations Lecturer at University of Notre Dame Australia, said CHOGM will allow for Western Australia to be “put on the map”.
Dr Drum said that Australia does gain from being a part of the Commonwealth.
“We tap into a broader community that is the Commonwealth. Our heritage is derived from the UK system and we have that strong connection to some degree.”
Dr Drum mentioned the changing ties between Australia and Britain.
"Eventually I think Australia will become a republic,” he said.
But neither Mr Pickford nor Dr Drum see the republican debate resurfacing anytime soon.
They see lighter topics, such as the Royal Wedding, being discussed by the media.
Public information sessions about CHOGM will be held at Perth Convention Centre in the coming months.
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