Call to cut Aust, intake

Press, 3 December 1982, Page 4

Call to cut Aust, intake

NZPA Melbourne The Australian Council of Trade' Unions executive has asked the Federal Government to review urgently the number of New Zealanders migrating to Australia each year. The executive made its call yesterday as part of a general, request for a clamp on . immigration in view of Australia’s mounting levels of unemployment. The executive resolution recognised that there was a “special relationship” between Australia and New Zealand. • But it said that the estim-

ated annual intake of 40,000 New Zealanders with permanent and lohg-.term residence rights needed review. The executive called on the Government in conjunction with the New Zealand Government and the Australian and New Zealand trade union movement to start a re-examination of the Tasman migration programme. It.. said that' the review should include an investigation of appropriate mechanisms to monitor the number of visitors and long-term residents going to Australia. As part of its over-all

migration policy the A.C.T.U. called on the Government to reduce its planned immigration intake of 134,000 for 1982-1983. The executive said that the planned intake was “too high.” It also reaffirmed the policy decisions made at the recent special Federal unions’ conference. Those policies include a call on the Government to cease immediately its recruitment campaign of skilled tradesmen, an end to the employment, nomination scheme, and a further restriction on the working holiday visa scheme.