Released on = October 11, 2006, 5:42 am

Press Release Author = Neoli Lancel Marcos

Industry = Small Business

Press Release Summary = Australia is launching a fierce global campaign to usher in
skilled workers to address the country\'s continuing skills shortage. This financial
year alone, the Australian government has opened some 100,000 jobs.

Press Release Body = London, 11 October, 2006---

This month of October, the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs
(DIMA) is holding a skills expo in London, Manchester and Dublin to attract skilled
workers to Australia.

Australia is launching a fierce global campaign to usher in skilled workers to
address the country\'s continuing skills shortage. This financial year alone, the
Australian government has opened some 100,000 jobs.

The three-city expo, succinctly titled \"Australia Needs Skills\", is participated by
more than 25 Australian companies, as well as officials and representatives of
Australian states. It is expected to bring employers and prospective employees
together and generally to make Australia more accessible to potential skilled
migrants.

Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Amanda Vanstone said \"Employers
will meet people with the skills and experience they need, while skilled workers
will have the opportunity to learn about visas and employment opportunities in
Australia.\"

The Brits are by far the largest group of immigrants in Australia today, highly
sought-after for their skills and English language proficiency. Since 2001, more
than 99,000 people have already migrated to Australia from the UK and Ireland-a
figure made possible by Australia\'s healthy, simplified and non-discriminatory visa
system. Under the employer nomination scheme, for example, should Australian
companies need to fill positions where no Australian worker is suitable, they can
sponsor overseas workers. Other popular immigration programmes are the regional
sponsored migration scheme, and the temporary business visa scheme.

Online visa applications have also helped facilitate Australian immigration.

Last year, more than 16 000 people attended the skills expos in the UK, Europe and
India as well as in Melbourne and Perth.

The Australia Needs Skills expos arrives in London on October 14-15, in Manchester
on October 17-18, and in Dublin, October 21-22. - Senator Amanda Vanstone, DIMA



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