With an aim to tighten the migration system in Australia, the Anthony Albanese government on Monday announced stricter visa rules for the international students and low-skilled workers coming to the country. Australia stated that this would help the country in slashing the annual migrant intake from a Record high of 5,10,000 to its half within two years.
According to the new rules, international students coming to Australia would need to secure higher scores in English tests, and there will also be more scrutiny on the student’s second visa application that would prolong their stay in the country.
The Australian government stated that through this, they will be accomplishing three key objectives i.e.,
- Enhancing living standards for Australians
- Ensuring good working conditions
- Strengthening international relationships
The new rules will then replace the existing temporary skill shortage visa.
How Bharat Will Be Impacted?
With Australia now introducing stricter rules for international students, the question arises on how it will impact the Bharatiya students and professionals. Well, it is speculated that the move isn’t expected to adversely impact the Bharatiye students and professionals.
The Australian High Commissioner to Bharat, Philip Green on Monday said despite the new rules, Australia will continue to welcome high quality students seeking educational opportunities from Bharat. Responding on whether the reforms will decline the number of Bharatiye students going to Australia, Green stated that he sees no reason why numbers shouldn’t continue to grow. Green even added that commitments made under Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) will be upheld through the new rules as well.
Further, the Australian Envoy to Bharat added that Bharatiya graduates will be eligible to stay in Australia on a Temporary Graduate Visa, i.e., two years for Bachelors degree, three years for Masters, and four years for PhD.
Meanwhile, an official, aware about the developments, on condition of anonymity said that the reforms will not hamper opportunities for the Bharatiye students to live, study and work in Australia temporarily as they are protected under ECTA.
The official added that new rules are expected to open a new pathway for semi-skilled workers that will likely benefit Bharatiye nationals. These semi-skilled workers would get opportunities in targetted areas such as drivers, heavy machinery operators, though it would require certain legislative changes t be made in Australia. He added that the number of semi-skilled workers required will not be massive and the changes will take some time to implement, meaning that these opportunities are expected to open up from 2024 onwards.
As of August 2023, more than 120,000 Bharatiye students were enrolled in Australia, making them the second largest group of foreign students in the country. Australia also has about 976,000 citizens of Bharatiye-origin.
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