The Australian government is welcoming feedback on the proposed changes to the General Skilled Migration points test.
A discussion paper calling for public comment on the changes has been released by the Minister of Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans.
The current points test requires applicants who are not sponsored by an employer to accumulate 120 points based on qualifications, skills and English proficiency. According to the minister, this means that a foreign student with a short-term vocational qualification and one year’s work experience in Australia would have priority over a Harvard graduate environmental scientist with three years of relevant work experience.
Evans added that “the application of the current points test has not always led to outcomes that are consistent with the objectives of selecting skilled migrants with high value skills to meet Australia’s economic needs.”
The review of the points system will, amongst other things, determine whether certain occupations should grant applicants more points than others, as well as decide if points should be given for qualifications from high quality foreign universities.
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) will report to the federal government on the outcome of the review in May 2010.
