The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has delivered on its permanent migration services program for 2011-12, coming within two of its planned 185,000 places.
Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen said skilled
migration accounted for over two-thirds of the total migration program,
with a 2011-12 skill stream outcome of 125,755 places.
“While the government’s first priority is always jobs for
Australians, skilled migration is essential to support our economy and
help overcome the challenges of an ageing population,” Mr Bowen said.
“Today’s skill stream is highly targeted towards employer sponsorship,
the regions and high value occupations, with over 60 per cent of skilled
migration visas going to employer, government and regional sponsored
places to help fill critical skills needs.”
He said there were 16,471 places delivered under the highest priority Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme, with Western Australia accounting for 23.2 per cent of the outcome.
He said State and Territory sponsored visa classes were also
delivered in record numbers, with the 22,247 places marking a 37.5 per
cent increase on the previous year.
“For the first time, India was Australia’s largest source of
permanent migrants, with a total of 29 018 places or 15.7 per cent of
the total migration program,” Mr Bowen said.
“China and the United Kingdom were our second and third largest
sources of permanent migrants, with 25,509 and 25,274 places
respectively.
“Seven of the top 10 source countries in Australia’s 2011-12
migration program are from Asia: India, China, the Philippines, Sri
Lanka, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea and Vietnam.”
He said the family stream which allowed Australians to unite with
their close family and particularly with their partners and children had
a final outcome of 58,604 places, representing 31.7 per cent of the
total migration program.
The overall breakdown of the program by visa streams was skill stream
125,755 places; family stream 58,604 places; and special eligibility
stream, 639.
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