Fed: Andrews releases migration figures for 2006-07

AAP General News (Australia)
08-16-2007
Fed: Andrews releases migration figures for 2006-07

CANBERRA, Aug 16 AAP - Almost 150,000 foreigners were granted permanent visas to live
in Australia last year, with two-thirds of them skilled migrants.

Britain (24,800), India (15,865), China (14,688), South Africa (4,293) and Malaysia
(3,838) were the leading sources of skilled workers.

They accounted for 97,920 of the 148,200 permanent visas issued in 2006-07, according
to figures released today by Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews.

Accountants, computing professionals, registered nurses were the leading occupations
among skilled migrants, whose average age was 31.

Mr Andrews defended the high number of foreign workers brought into Australia.

"The reality is we face a shortage of workers in Australia," he said in a statement.

"Australia is competing for skilled workers with Europe, the US, Canada and New Zealand.

"We simply have to ensure that we build a productive nation where business can continue
to thrive into the future."

Mr Andrews said the acceptance of 50,079 people on family stream visas last year -
one-third of the migration intake - was helping to address the ageing population and a
low domestic birthrate.

"The global economy and more affordable overseas travel is enabling more young Australians
to go overseas to study and work," he said.

"This tends to occur during their 20s and early 30s when they also tend to enter into
relationships.

"There is a growing demand on the program for those people who want to bring their
spouses back to Australia and form a family and live here."

Britain (6,540), China (6,037), India (3,634), the Philippines (3,098) and Vietnam
(3,040) were leading source countries for migrants under the family stream.

Refugees and humanitarian entrants accounted for 13,017 accepted into Australia during 2006-07.

The government announced in the May budget it would accept more skilled migrants during
2007-08 - a total of 102,500 - as it tries to prevent skills shortages becoming a brake
on the economy.

AAP dcr/sb/it/bwl

KEYWORD: MIGRATION

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