Let's Go - as the New Year starts for us and is in readiness for the Chinese New Year on 14th February!

It seems hard to believe, for some of us, that 2010 is here - does it seem like a decade ago that the Y2K Bug was going to kill all the computers in the world, put our GPS systems off balance and for which many businesses spent mega dollars ensuring that they were prepared for it!  Much has happened on the global front in that ten years, in some ways peace seems further away now than it was then, and certainly personal freedom, rights of the individual and the ability to live as an individual in a collective society have been eroded by the threat of "terrorism", which has also been an oft used "excuse" to curtail our rights and freedoms.  But what are the options?   This impacts those living in the country and very much on those travelling between countries where legitimate travellers and visa seekers are oft treated with suspicion and distrust for no apparent reason.

The year ahead is a 10!  Let's all put our collective thoughts to making it a 10/10 as we move into double digits in the 2000's.

If we think we can, we can, if we think we can't we won't - let's make this year one where every thought is positive, as our thoughts become our words and our words become our deeds.  If we dare to dream our goals we can achieve our goals.

Migration Update:

Temporary Business Visa 457 - radically changed in September.  Obligations on the employer and the sponsored employee.   New minimum level for sponsorship and salary.  New reporting requirements.  If you do not have the details contact us to get a copy of our newsletters explaining this.

Regional Skilled Migration Scheme, RSMS,  is currently under review - expect changes first half of this year - we don't expect the changes will be beneficial to employers or sponsored employees.  Will the regional concessions continue?

Monitoring - active monitoring is currently taking place with the 457 Temporary Work Visa - expect it also to with the RSMS permanent visa in the future.  We are aware of some people being told to just get the visa and then "do whatever they like" be aware that this course of action may prove disastrous for the visa holder and sponsor as DIAC WILL enforce the provisions they apply on visas.  We can expect more rigid scrutiny in the future.

Visa Application Approvals - all applications being lodged at present are undergoing extensive scrutiny by case officers obviously now instructed to check all applications and refuse where any conditions are not met.  Do not expect to "bluff your way" through the process or treat it lightly.  Only thorough, complete and complying applications are getting approved.  Where there is doubt or any reason to do so applications are being refused.  Qualifications and references from Australia AND overseas are being checked, Trade Recognition is being sought, prior employers are being checked.  We are operating in a high surveillance time where reasons are being sought to refuse rather than approve applications.  Be very thorough and complete in submitting 110% complete and supported applications.

Refugees:

Whilst we do not practice in the area of refugees some instances provide a useful insight into the current debate in Australia, what the Government would like us to think about refugees, and the "de-humanising" of the refugee plight to justify inhuman behaviour and to drum up a typical human trait of mass hysteria and xenophobia.
Ahn Do you may have seen on TV, he is Vietnamese, he came to Australia as a three year old refugee "boat person".  An interesting story of human difficulty, shot at as they left Vietnam, attacked by pirates during their voyage, witnessed his younger brother being held by his feet over the side of a boat with death threatened unless they co-operated with pirates, successfully studied law in Australia, bought his Mother a house, one of his goals in life, became a Comedian, successfully, has appeared on Dancing with the Stars and this little story adds to an incredible life.  Watch it through to the end although it may be just a little "corny" to start with.  Sometimes it is easy to forget we are all, with the exception of the traditional owners, migrants to this country - indeed the first European's from the UK were classically "boat people" also, and yet now we sit in judgement on those that follow.  A solicitor turned comedian Ahn Do has a story worth listening to.  When the screen opens click on "Play the Clip" and watch it through to the end.

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/fora/stories/2009/11/25/2755646.htm

Should we count our blessings?

From the Sydney writers Festival if you go to this site and click on the blue button "Play Clip."  It opens up a five minute clip telling the sort of story the story we don’t usually hear:  Maybe we should ponder a moment on the "luck of birth", where and when we are born plays so much in how our lives play out.   

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/fora/stories/2009/11/27/2755706.htm

     
Finally from the Many a True Word Spoken in Jest Department, here is one that might ring a bell from some recent statements in the popular press:

“Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.”   Credit and thanks to John Byrne of Byrnes Lawyers Townsville the source of some of these references.