best people need apply

Press, 12 August 1986, Page 21

best people need apply

Laura Veltmen reports from London on Australians apparently successful drive to recruit better qualified migrants.

Australia’s “brain drain” policy, by which Canberra is encouraging "excellent” people to move “down under," is apparently working in Britain and Ireland. The number of people from the two countries emigrating to Australia has more than doubled in the past year — and is expected to increase sharply in coming years. - 1 Officials at the Australian High Commission in London say that the number of applicants able to meet Australia’s strict immigration requirements has more than doubled, while the calibre of the “New Australians" is higher than ever before.

The Original Director for the Australian Immigration Office, Norman Hoffman, speaking in London, says that would-be migrants are not discouraged by gloomy recent reports about the economic wellbeing of their intended homeland.

“About 18,550 people were issued with resident visas in London in the past year (June 1985-July 1986), compared to 7400 in 1984-1985,” Hoffman says. "Obviously, people here still see Australia as a land of opportunity and they measure that against their environment in Britain and Ireland.”

About 100,000 people applied for permission to live in Australia during the past year, a direct result, Hoffman feels, of Australia’s new “excellent people” policy. Knowledge of English, and recognition of educational qualifications, tend to favour people from Britain and Ireland, says Hoffman, although the drive for “excellent” migrants is worldwide.

According to Australia’s Immigration and Ethnic Affairs Minister, Chris Hurford: “We are competing with other countries and will be promoting our,, programme even more strongly.”

Australia has an open policy on immigration and aims to expand its migrant intake from the 95,000 people targeted for 1986-87 to 160,000 in the next two or three years. Qualities that Australian immigration officials around the world are looking tor include experience and success in commercial ventures, ' sufficient money to set up in business in Australia and/or to invest in the Australian economy, education and experience in skilled trades or professions, as well as relative youth (under 45), and good health and character.

South-East Asia remains Australia’s major source of immigration, followed by Britain. Seventy per cent of the immigrants from Britain and Ireland qualify under Australia’s "family reunion” provision. Copyright — London Observer Service.