EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND SKILLED MIGRATION

In reply to Mr PISONI (Unley) (1 July 2009).

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN (Napier—Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Science and Information Economy): The Minister for Industry and Trade has provided the following information:

1. The Skilled Independent Regional (SIR visa), now called a Skilled Regional Sponsored visa has worked and residency requirements before permanent residency can be achieved.

For SIR migrants residing in Australia for between 12 and 18 months (Source: Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Australia).

97.8 per cent were employed (higher than the Australian population average), whilst the SA employment rate was almost identical at 97.7 per cent.

Whether this employment was in a skilled occupation varied depending on whether the migrant was from an English speaking background.

93 per cent of survey respondents remained in the state in which they were sponsored.

Upon future achievement of permanent residency, 89 per cent indicated no intention to move from the regional area in which they were residing.

2. We have now reached agreement between our governments on the draft terms of the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

The Department of Trade and Economic Development will now undertake final consultation with both the Commonwealth Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), which has the sole legislative authority for Australia's immigration program, and also the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Currently it is not possible to specify a date when the MOU will be signed. The government's priority is on job opportunities for existing South Australian residents.

3. The Premier's visit to New Zealand coincided with a major skills and careers expo in New Zealand and generated a significant profile for this event and importantly, for South Australia as a whole. It led to a considerable number of enquiries at the expo and later enquiries via the 'Make the Move' portal.

In recent years our number of settler arrivals from New Zealand has increased considerably from 232 persons in 2002-03, to 508 persons in 2007-08.