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| Thursday, 3 March 2005 |
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Australian Govt wants more skilled migrants SYDNEY, Wednesday (AFP) Australia should aim to attract more skilled migrants despite immigration in this category increasing three-fold since 1995, Treasurer Peter Costello said Wednesday. "I think we should fashion our immigration program to skilled immigration," Costello told reporters. "We've got places for people. I'd like to encourage that." From a total immigrant intake of 130,000, the number of skilled workers coming to Australia from overseas has jumped from 23,500 in 1995-96 to about 71,000 annually. The government is hearing increasing pleas from industry and commerce to raise its immigrant intake as the country is currently experiencing an acute shortage of skilled workers, which is beginning to affect the economy by increasing wage pressures. Australia's points-based immigration system, now the model for tougher new immigration controls proposed by Britain, was introduced in 1979 and since then almost three million people have arrived here. |
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