Australian Values Test: Migrants be Warned

According to recent news, the Australian Values Order will come into force from 1st October 2007.  What is Australian Values Order ? It is basically a newly introduced test that applies only to foreigners who are seeking Australian citizenship. If someone stops you in the street and asks “In what year did federation take place” or “Who was the first prime minister of Australia?” they are most probably government agents performing their duty under the Order. Get two wrong in a row and you will be issued with an Australian Values Order, which requires you to turn up at your local citizenship office within seven days for a re-education course. Anyone who breaches an AVO apparently faces deportation.

The government is recommending the booklet called Becoming An Australian Citizen which the government will hand out to people seeking to become permanent residents. The Australian Democrats leader Lyn Allison, who last week described the sample citizenship test as “stupid”. She said it was “ludicrous” to deny someone citizenship just because they did not know that the golden wattle was the nation’s floral emblem, or that Sir Donald Bradman was a great cricketer. “This is a test designed to exclude people on the basis that they can’t memorise answers to some pretty obscure questions,” she said.

She particularly objected to this question: “Which one of these is a responsibility of every Australian citizen? (1) Renounce their citizenship of any other country; (2) Serve in Australian diplomatic missions overseas; or (3) Join with Australians to defend Australia and its way of life, should the need arise.” The correct answer is (3).

Anyway, the news is rather alarming to new skilled or non skilled migrants hoping to make Australia their home and contribute to this promising land and build its future together. Comments would be welcome on this subject.

Source: http://blogs.smh.com.au/sit/archives/2007/09/who_we_are_next.html?page=fullpage

Drought-Stricken Farmers Opting for Non Farming Careers

Recent drought in some Austrlian parts has severely hit the farming community. It has also caused this community to rethink its future and increasingly farmers in the worst hit areas are shifting towards non farming occupations. The government has shown good support for these affected farmers.

Under the new rules, farmers in drought-stricken communities can own up to $750,000 in off-farm assets, up from $473,000, and still receive interest-rate subsidies. They will also be allowed to earn as much as $20,000 — a doubling of the previous limit of $10,000 — in non-farm income before becoming ineligible for assistance. The kicker is the doubling of the exit grant farmers are being offered to walk off their land to $150,000, plus up to $20,000 in training and relocation expenses; an acknowledgment that for many, it will be more attractive to walk away.

However, the rules and conditions set by the government to support these stranded farmers that once ran the food and fruit basket of the country have become controversial. For more on this and the story of once a thriving farmer in Mildura, visit: http://www.theage.com.au/news/in-depth/life-off-the-land/2007/09/28/1190486567507.html.

Hairdressing Or Hair related Careers in Australia

This may sound out of the norm but we have noticed that several people visiting our weblog have searched for information on jobs and career for hair related works in Australia. We assume that these capable people are planning to migrate to Australia to pursue hair related careers. Although the information on the internet is sparse, we have gathered some basic information is reproduced below and which we hope will be of some help.

 On the hard side, the hours are long and social life is severely hit because of the tiredness that comes from standing on one’s feet for several hours a day. Tough job really ! However, interaction with interesting people during the course of work makes the profession quite attractive and one feels at home even at the workplace.  Besides, the profession provides endless opportunities for expression of one’s creativity and there are several strands that one can take and specialize in.

Competition is also very intense in this industry. However, due to increase in fashion awareness and growth in the fashion industry, there are endless opportunities for creative and dedicated professionals in this line.

As far as income or wages are concerned, it is a well paid profession. In big cities like Melbourne and Australia, a mediocre professional can expect to earn around 16  to 20 Australian Dollars per hour.

We will certainly welcome more contribution from those who have first hand experience in this field as migrant or normal professionals in Australia to help our valued visitors and blog readers who are looking for more information in this field. In the meantime, we hope the above information has provided some useful information.

457 visa workers left penniless, homeless

An interesting story I saw on The Age. I am copying it here for the readers of this blog:

EIGHTEEN months ago, Gong Wei and Huang Jiandong arrived in Sydney hoping to build prosperity for their families in China. Yesterday the two men were homeless, penniless and on the brink of deportation, the latest victims to slip through the cracks of the skilled worker visa scheme.

Mr Gong, 32, and Mr Huang, 37, say they are each owed more than $30,000, which was taken from their bank accounts by their former employer, Frank Wang. Mr Wang says they spent their money on “girls” and are harassing him for money he does not owe them.

The case is being investigated by police, the Immigration Department and the Workplace Ombudsman. Meanwhile, Mr Gong and Mr Huang were yesterday evicted from their home and, with no rights to stay in Australia, fear they will be sent back to China before anyone helps.

A parliamentary inquiry’s report into the 457 visa scheme yesterday called for changes to it, including the introduction of a “confidential complaints mechanism” to allow workers to report breaches without being punished by their employers.

Mr Gong, a carpenter, and Mr Huang, a construction worker, who each have a young child, were approached by their supervisor at a building site in Jiangsu province early last year. He knew a man who had a relative in Australia named Frank Wang who needed two workers.

Mr Wang sponsored Mr Gong and Mr Huang on 457 visas to work in Sydney for two years. But their contracts did not meet 457 visa conditions, which stipulate a minimum wage payment of $41,850, among others. The men also had to pay a $8065 “deposit” to Mr Wang’s representative in China.