Not coming to Australia now :(

Student attacks hit education industry
By Emily Bourke for AM/ABC Radio

Posted 2 hours 16 minutes ago

Australia's private education sector says overseas student enrolments have taken a serious dive following the spate of attacks on Indian students.

The most recent violent incident emerged in Western Australia yesterday with the deaths of two Indian students who were allegedly killed by another Indian student after an argument over money.

Industry experts say the Government's recently announced changes to the migration program have also shaken the overseas student market.

And there are now calls for a body to represent the interests of the entire sector to help repair the damage.

Andrew Smith, from the Australian Council for Private Education and Training, says there has been a drop of between 40 and 50 per cent in applications from South Asian countries, particularly India.

"We've seen some fall away from the China market which is another key market but we are also seeing some increases in other markets and we expected over the course of this year, numbers overall will actually probably hold about the same," he said.

"There just won't be anything like the rates of growth we've experienced in recent years."

But he says the Government's changes to the skilled migration program are likely stunt growth in the education market.

"There was a further suite of changes announced last week," he said.

"The disappointing thing from our point of view was that those changes rely on a specialised occupation list being developing and that list is still several months away from being developed and released, which makes it very hard for businesses to plan, makes it very hard for prospective students to know what their options might be."...<cont>

Crackdown on skilled migrants
KATHARINE MURPHY
February 8, 2010/the Age

ABOUT 20,000 people will have their visa applications cancelled as the Rudd government launches a crackdown in the skilled migration program.

In a move likely to inflame political sensitivities over the treatment of Indian students, the government is expected to deny migrants any opportunity of achieving ''back door'' permanent residency through the skilled migration scheme.

The changes to be unveiled today will see 20,000 current applications binned; an overhaul of the queueing system that identifies occupations in demand and creates a points system; and state governments will be asked to develop new migration plans.

The Immigration Minister will also gain new legal authority to set a maximum number of visas for a single occupation.

The cancelled applications apply to all offshore general skilled migration claims lodged before September 2007. Refunding 20,000 visa applications will cost taxpayers about $14 million.

Given the changes could have a significant impact on many foreign students already in Australia, the government will introduce transitional arrangements to apply until 2012.

Foreign students who have a qualification for an occupation no longer considered in demand will get to apply for a temporary 18-month visa, allowing them to gain work experience.

The 18 months will also give a foreign graduate time in which to find an employer willing to sponsor their application as a skilled migrant.

If they are unsuccessful in that attempt, they will have to return to their country of origin.

The overhaul of the system will set a new list of occupations in demand.

The new system is expected to favour skilled workers including nurses, general medical practitioners, mechanical engineers and teachers instead of groups such as cooks and hairdressers.

Employers are supportive. Yesterday, Australian Industry Group chief executive Heather Ridout said: ''The changes should result in a better connect between permanent residency and addressing Australia's critical skills needs.''

In a frank speech to be delivered this morning, Immigration Minister Chris Evans will argue that the skilled migration program has not been working in Australia's economic or demographic interests.

''The program has been delivering self-nominated migrants from a narrow range of occupations with poor to moderate English language skills who struggle to find employment in their nominated occupation,'' Senator Evans will argue.

Senator Evans will acknowledge the impact of the changes on foreign students, but argue they can still gain residency if they gain qualifications in professions that are in demand.

He said the current tensions and misunderstandings have been made worse by unscrupulous migration agents.

''[These agents] have been misleading many international students into believing that a course in Australia gave them an automatic entitlement to permanent residence,'' Senator Evans said. ''It does not, and it will not.''

Senator Evans will also argue that the government supports skilled migration and continues to want migrants, ''be they from India, the United Kingdom or China - our three largest source countries or elsewhere''.

''We want skilled migrants on terms that work both for Australia and for the migrants themselves. We need a program with integrity and direction.''

The Indian community has praised Victoria Police for their efforts in investigating the toddler’s death.

Ya know, I didn't dare say it, but I was thinking that often such crimes are by someone close to the family.

Safety fear: Indian cricketers cancel tour
YUKO NARUSHIMA
March 3, 2010/the AGE

AUSTRALIA'S reputation in India is testing the unifying powers of cricket after a group of Indian players cancelled a recent tour to Australia due to lingering safety concerns.

The organiser of a tour of up-and-comers from academies in Chhindwara and Rajasthan, Bruce Adams, said negative perceptions of Australia persisted even when attacks had subsided.

''Cricket is the greatest tie we have between the two countries,'' Mr Adams said.

The tour for 18- to 24-year-olds had been scheduled to promote goodwill, pitching first-grade Indian players against local cricket teams in Canberra.

However, security concerns fuelled by negative reports in India have forced six players to withdraw.

''It's really disappointing. There was nothing I could say to change their minds,'' Mr Adams said.

''This is a massive wake-up call for Australia to take responsibility for the actions of everyone.''

Cricket Australia has publicly deplored the attacks, and high-profile players including Shane Warne, Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden and Nathan Hauritz have condemned the violence.

''The coverage in India has caused a lot of concern,'' Cricket Australia's anti-racism officer Peter Young said.

''Cricket should be a bridge between diverse cultures and not a divisive element between the two.''

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith was in India yesterday, outlining actions that Australian authorities had taken to quash violence against Indian students.

No Indian tours were in jeopardy over the attacks, he said.

I think Sunny Chandra has gone from The Age link?

I think that the Indian press often goes overboard to set its own agendas.

Singh pleaded guilty to criminal damage with intent to gain through arson, attempting to obtain property by deception and making a false report to police.

and he didn't get prison time??? what gives, PC strikes again??

Full disclosure: I haven't read this thread post by post.

I really don't know what the truth is but I'm guessing most of these guys who get attacked have some sort of role to play in the events that lead to the eventual attack.

ABE5177 wrote:

Singh pleaded guilty to criminal damage with intent to gain through arson, attempting to obtain property by deception and making a false report to police.

and he didn't get prison time??? what gives, PC strikes again??

Of course not ... that would be racist !!!