Australia's Immigration Department to invest $100m in IT
Fri, 23 Sep 2005 12:00:00 GMT
Australia's Immigration Department will spend an extra $100 million on IT over the next five years, and the figure could rise even further as the department considers whether it needs to spend more on technology in the wake of the Palmer Report into unlawful detention. The first requests for tender will hit the market next week, with others coming out until early next year. The department will brief industry in Canberra next Tuesday.
Australian Immigration Re-admits Students After Administrative Gaffe
Mon, 19 Sep 2005 20:48:52 GMT
Canberra, Australia (AHN) - 8,000 foreign students have been re-admitted back to Australia after a national gaffe in which immigration administrators canceled their visas because of breached rules. The Federal Magistrates Court of Australia sent notices to students between May 2001 and August 2005 for breaking their visa requirements, which include attending a certain amount of classes and maintaining a certain pass level.
Australia's rural areas want Indian immigrants
Fri, 09 Sep 2005 12:00:00 GMT
Troubled by skilled worker shortage, officials from Australia's country towns or rural areas are reportedly touring India to entice immigrants. The city council of Victorian town Ballarat recently funded a former official to visit Bangalore to recruit potential immigrants right from the source. "As a result of that trip, people of Ballarat have adopted India as a second country," said David Keenan, acting manager of city development.
Citizenship changes 'heavy handed'
Thu, 08 Sep 2005 12:00:00 GMT
PLANS to force migrants to wait an extra year before seeking Australian citizenship were reactionary and heavy handed, rights groups said today. Prime Minister John Howard proposed a raft of new policing and citizenship measures today, under a wide-ranging counter-terrorism regime. The changes include increasing the waiting period to obtain citizenship from two to three years.
Using your laptop on the beach might be a big no-no if your visa stamp says "tourist"
Mon, 05 Sep 2005 12:00:00 GMT
An American who was recently deported from Australia for "intent to work" while on a tourist visa. The evidence of this crime? Well, he had his laptop with him, along with various business documents. Since he owned an (American-based) Internet business operable from his laptop, he was able to travel freely, or so he thought.