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| Australia cuts migrant job intake | Australia cuts migrant job intake |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Australia has said it will cut the number of skilled foreign workers it accepts by 14% to safeguard local jobs. | Australia has said it will cut the number of skilled foreign workers it accepts by 14% to safeguard local jobs. |
| Immigration Minister Chris Evans announced the cut, the first by the country in 10 years. | Immigration Minister Chris Evans announced the cut, the first by the country in 10 years. |
| Mr Evans said the government did not want to admit people who would compete with Australians for limited jobs amid the global financial crisis. | Mr Evans said the government did not want to admit people who would compete with Australians for limited jobs amid the global financial crisis. |
| Unemployment is rising in Australia, after years of economic growth fuelled largely by mining exports. | Unemployment is rising in Australia, after years of economic growth fuelled largely by mining exports. |
| One of the main countries likely to be affected by the cuts is the UK. | |
| Every year many British bricklayers, carpenters, plumbers and other people with trades decide to swap life in the UK for life in Australia. | |
| Construction slowdown | |
| "We're going to cut (the programme) from 133,500 to 115,000, so that's about a 14% cut," Mr Evans told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. | "We're going to cut (the programme) from 133,500 to 115,000, so that's about a 14% cut," Mr Evans told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. |
| The number of foreign skilled migrants will be cut by 18,500 for the 2009/10 financial year, which starts in June, from a total number of 133,500 in 2008/09. | The number of foreign skilled migrants will be cut by 18,500 for the 2009/10 financial year, which starts in June, from a total number of 133,500 in 2008/09. |
| "The economic circumstances in Australia have changed as a result of the global financial crisis," Mr Evans said. "It is prudent to reduce this year's migration intake accordingly." | "The economic circumstances in Australia have changed as a result of the global financial crisis," Mr Evans said. "It is prudent to reduce this year's migration intake accordingly." |
| The permanent skilled migration programme will bar entry to foreign bricklayers, plumbers, carpenters and electricians for the foreseeable future. | The permanent skilled migration programme will bar entry to foreign bricklayers, plumbers, carpenters and electricians for the foreseeable future. |
| "That's where we've seen a drop-off in demand [and] some major redundancies," Mr Evans said. | "That's where we've seen a drop-off in demand [and] some major redundancies," Mr Evans said. |
| NICK BRYANTS' AUSTRALIA The announcement confirms what we have known since before Christmas: that Australia does not offer a safe haven from the worldwide downturn Read Nick's thoughts in full | NICK BRYANTS' AUSTRALIA The announcement confirms what we have known since before Christmas: that Australia does not offer a safe haven from the worldwide downturn Read Nick's thoughts in full |
| He added that further cuts may be made when the national budget is unveiled in May. | He added that further cuts may be made when the national budget is unveiled in May. |
| The migrant scheme offers permanent residency to approved skilled workers. | The migrant scheme offers permanent residency to approved skilled workers. |
| Employers will still be able to bring in foreign tradesmen by sponsoring them under a special visa for temporary migrant workers, provided they can prove that the labour cannot be sourced in Australia. | Employers will still be able to bring in foreign tradesmen by sponsoring them under a special visa for temporary migrant workers, provided they can prove that the labour cannot be sourced in Australia. |
| Professions such as nurses, doctors, engineers and information technology will be safe, as Australia still has shortages in these areas. | Professions such as nurses, doctors, engineers and information technology will be safe, as Australia still has shortages in these areas. |
| The government removed hairdressers and cooks from Australia's list of critical skills shortages late last year. | The government removed hairdressers and cooks from Australia's list of critical skills shortages late last year. |
| Figures released last week showed the unemployment rate had risen to a four-year high of 5.2%. The federal government predicts a jobless rate of 5.5% by June, and 7% by the same time next year. | Figures released last week showed the unemployment rate had risen to a four-year high of 5.2%. The federal government predicts a jobless rate of 5.5% by June, and 7% by the same time next year. |
| The government recently announced an Aus$27.5bn (£19.6bn) stimulus package, including cash handouts and infrastructure spending, which it hopes will help the economy through the downturn. | The government recently announced an Aus$27.5bn (£19.6bn) stimulus package, including cash handouts and infrastructure spending, which it hopes will help the economy through the downturn. |
| Australia's economy has shrunk for the first time in eight years, raising fears that the country may be heading for a recession. | Australia's economy has shrunk for the first time in eight years, raising fears that the country may be heading for a recession. |