ABC Radio National

National Interest





Date/Time 14 Mar 2014 1:58:55pm
There is a simple answer to all of this. The government should not introduce new rules that apply retrospectively. By all means the Minister should make new rules affecting skilled migration and international students. But it is extremely unfair for those people in the "pipeline" to have the goal posts changed on them, especially when they are so close to the end of the migration process.
The shortening of the Skilled Occupations List also has a dire impact on students who have almost completed their courses, but who will not complete them before July 1, when the new List applies.

These callous decisions by the Minister have far reaching effects on the students and the families, and on Australia's international reputation.
As an Australian citizen I am outraged and ashamed that my country would treat people so poorly. No Australian I have spoken to about these new rules feels they are being fairly applied.
As for training unemployed Australian citizens to do the work - education for international students is in addition to training for Australians, not instead of it. When Chris Evans destroys the International Education sector, then you will understand how many jobs it created for Australians.
