New Immigration Minister
The newly elected Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd appointed Senator Chris Evans
as Minister for Immigration and Citizenship on 29 November 2007. Laurie Ferguson was
appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Programs.
We welcome Senator Evans and Mr Ferguson to their new roles.
As at the time of publication no significant policy announcements have been made by the new Minister.
Migration Agents' review
On 12 September 2007, the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Citizenship released a discussion paper for public comment.
Submissions closed 26 October 2007. Issues for examination include:
- Whether the migration advice profession is ready for a move to self-regulation
- Whether the existing regulatory framework is adequate
- Effectiveness of the Migration Agents' Registration Authority as the industry regulator
- Adequacy of the Migration Agents' Code of Conduct
See: 2007-08 Review of Statutory Self-Regulation of the Migration Advice Profession:
Discussion paper
Work eperience skill pathway D removed from UAC by TRA
Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) is the assessing authority for over 170 skilled occupations on the Skilled Occupations List.
TRA will no longer accept applications that rely predominantly on evidence of work experience normally assessed under Skill
Pathway D of the Uniform Assessment Criteria (UAC). Skill Pathway D has been removed from the UAC.
Applications received after 1 October 2007 will be assessed against the UAC, exclusive of the former Skill Pathway D.
Criteria will include formal apprenticeship, informal apprenticeship, vocational traineeship and Australian qualification.
Note: From 1 September 2007, VETASSESS is conducting a new skills assessment service for people from India,
Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, South Africa and the Philippines who wish to have their skills assessed for the following
trades – general electrician, Refrigeration and air-conditioning mechanic, motor mechanic, general plumber,
carpenter and joiner, bricklayer, cable jointer, electrical power line tradesperson.
Until recently, GSM applicants qualified for five bonus points for capital investment in Australia.
Applicants who deposited $100,000 in a nominated deposit for a term of at least 12 months under Part 8
of the Schedule 6A General Points Test were eligible for the extra points. Certain State and Territories
gazetted government bonds for this purpose.
However, from 30 November 2007, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship advised that no State or
Territory is participating in the arrangement, following reports of a “scam” involving unauthorised loans to some applicants.
This leaves many applicants who cannot now fulfil the capital investment requirement that would qualify them for the GSM visa.
On 12 September 2007 the Joint Standing Committee on Migration tabled its report into temporary business visas.
The report entitled Temporary visas… Permanent benefits: ensuring the effectiveness,
fairness and integrity of the temporary business visa program provides 25 recommendations to
improve eligibility and reporting requirements, monitoring and enforcement of temporary business visas, including the 457 visa.
The report recommends that the Department of Immigration and Citizenship research individual sectors’ use
of the 457 visa, beginning with the meat processing industry.
It proposes a national skills assessment process for overseas trained doctors be fast-tracked, and that
the character requirements of the 457 visa program be reviewed to ensure integrity of security and police checks.
See:Full Report
An Agricultural Production Working Group will be established to investigate and provide recommendations on the skill needs of
the Australian agricultural industry . The group will assess the needs and circumstances in which the use of the skilled
temporary 457 visa provisions may or may not be appropriate. The working group will examine issues such as entry level
qualifications, skills, experience required, adequacy of OH&S training and English language requirements.
The group will report its findings in early 2008.
The 485 visa subclass came into effect on 1 September 2007. The 485 visa allows overseas students who do not
achieve the pass score for a permanent GSM visa to remain in Australia for 18 months to gain skilled work experience or
improve their English language skills.
Analysts have estimated that as many as 30,000 former international students might be competing for jobs alongside
local students, with some overseas graduates undercutting wages or even working for nothing to qualify for permanent residency.
From 1 September 2007, changes have been implemented to the General Skilled Migration Program.
South Australia will be offering Sponsorships for the following visa options:
Skilled – Sponsored (permanent) visa subclass 176 (offshore) and 886 (onshore) incorporating the Skill Matching visa subclass 134
Skilled - Regional sponsored (provisional) visa subclass 475 (offshore) 487 (onshore)
The applicant’s occupation, work experience and English language level will determine which visa option is available.
To gain more information about sponsorship criteria, application process, document checklist, on arrival services, planning and preparation.
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Australian Education International (AEI) data for October 2007 shows a year to date increase of 18.5% in enrolments
and 25.4% in commencements for international students on the same period in 2006. Despite strong growth in the number
of full fee paying students in 2007, there are also continued declines in enrolments from Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan.
Enrolments and commencements in the Higher Education sector grew 3.9% and 6.9% respectively.
China continues to lead the sector with the largest number of enrolments.
Commencements from Nepal have continued to grow strongly from a small base. Other markets that contributed to the rise in
commencements include China, India, Malaysia, Republic of Korea and Sri Lanka. Popular fields of study were
Business administration and management, Nursing and Economics.
See:Statistics
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World Youth Day pilgrims' visa application charges will be waived when they visit Australia in July 2008.
A memorandum of understanding, signed by the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Citizenship and
Cardinal Pell, will simplify the visa process for pilgrims. About 140,000 international pilgrims are expected
to visit Australia for World Youth Day on 20 July 2008.
“Easier visas to help youth on the road to Randwick”,
SMH, 4 October 2007 – registered pilgrims will be able to receive free three-month, multiple-entry visas.
Half of the pilgrims are expected to come from the United States, Italy and Germany.
Read the article from Sydney Morning Herald.
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“Foreign doctor doubts”, by Mark Metherall and Phillip Hudson, SMH, 27/9/07 – The Minister for Immigration
called on all State and Territory Medical Boards to review the procedures for vetting overseas-trained doctors before registering them to practise in Australia.
Read article - Sydney Morning Herald
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The latest immigration statistics released in September 2007 reveal that New Zealand has become the largest source country for migrants to Australia.
The publication Settler Arrivals 1996-97 to 2006-07 Australian States and Territories reveals that settler arrivals from New Zealand (23,906)
and the United Kingdom (23,223) accounted for 33.6% of settler arrivals in 2006-07. The next largest source countries were India (13,496), China (12,009), the Philippines (5,561).
Total arrivals in 2006-07 were 140,148 up from 131,593 in the previous year.
The publication gives a summary of settler arrivals statistics by birthplace, State of intended residence, and eligibility criteria.
See the Department's publication.
Australia's estimated population as at June 30, 2007 was 21,017,200. 56% of the year’s growth was attributed to immigration.
Read: Sydney Morning Herald article.
Related article: “Britain unveils Australian-style immigration points system”, SMH, 6 December 2007
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The Program will be maintained at 13,000 places for 2007-08. The Government has decided to reduce the proportion of refugees
from Africa to 30% of the 13,000 quota for this year. Most of the 30% will come from applications already in the system.
The Government has also changed sponsorship arrangements for humanitarian entrants to favour community organisations rather
than newly arrived people who are still struggling to adjust to Australia.
The intake from the Middle East and Asia will increase to around 35% each. Refugees from the Middle East will include Iraqis,
while refugees from Asia will include Burmese refugees in Thailand and Bhutanese refugees in Nepal.
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The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission announced the winners of 2007’s Human Rights Medal and Awards
in Sydney on Monday 10 December 2007.
-
Human Rights Medal:
Winner: Jeremy Jones
Highly commended: Mark bin Bakar
-
Community award (individual):
Winner: Dr Jamal Rifi
Highly commended: Ms Pat Rix
-
Community award (organisation): Northern Land Council
Highly commended: The House of Welcome
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Print media award
Winner: Dead men working (series), by Matthew Moore and Malcolm Knox, SMH
Highly commended: The face of Islam (series), Peter Kerr, SMH
Highly commended: Voices from the heart of the nation (series), Warlpiri Association & Reconciliation Australia & News Limited, the Australian
-
Television award
Winner: The Circuit, SBS
Highly commended: Torture (2 part series), Four Corners
Highly commended: Liyarn Ngarn, Lingiari Foundation
-
Radio award
Winner: Positive teens, Radio National
Highly commended: A light at the door, Radio National
-
Arts non-fiction award
Winner: Alone on the soaks – the life and times of Alec Kruger
Highly commended: Journeys with the black dog
-
Law award
Winner: Redfern Legal Centre
For further information see www.humanrights.gov.au
Related articles on human rights:
"UN expert warns that racism is increasingly manifest as violence", United Nations News,
8 November 2007, - A resurgence of racist and xenophobic
violence can be seen in the growing number of acts of physical violence and murders targeting members of ethnic,
cultural or religious communities. Read more
"Report of the Independent Audit into the State of free speech in Australia", chaired by Irene Moss, Australia’s Right to Know, 31 October 2007
Read more
"No discrimination or penalties for non-English speaking workers", FECCA, 31 October 2007, FECCA expressed outrage at the recent reported
decision of Cochlear Lane Cove plant to forbid its workers from speaking non-English languages in the workplace.
Read more
"Majority of Liberian women suffered sexual violence during war, says new
study", UNFPA, 6 November 2007 – more than half of all women in Lofa County,
northern Liberia, reported at least one incidence of sexual violence during the
1999-2003 conflict. Read more
“Security: a dangerous drift” by Geoffrey Barker, Australian Policy Online, 15 November 2007 –
The failed Ul-Haque and Haneef prosecutions reveal a culture of disregard for human rights and
due process within the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Association.
Read more
"Teacher facing 40 lashed over teddy bear insult" - SMH, 27 November 2007 – a British primary school teacher is in a
Sudanese jail facing 40 lashes if convicted of insulting Islam’s prophet Muhammed by letting children name a teddy bear after him.
Read more
"Pakistan frees secret terrorism prisoners", SMH, 20 December 2007 – Pakistan’s military and intelligence services have quietly released
about 100 men suspected of links to terrorism, few of whom were charged.
Read more
Refugee Council of Australia
Annual general meeting was held in November 2007,
see Annual report 2006-2007.
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The Secretary of Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Andrew Metcalfe, delivered a speech in which he discussed the
change management process he has undertaken in order to alter his Department’s culture and business practices in the
light of recent criticism. He touched on issues such as DIAC’s response to the Palmer and Comrie Reports into the Department,
changes to detention and compliance powers, client focus and uniform values and culture change for the Department’s 7000 staff
dispersed over 95 locations globally. Read more
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Australian citizenship Act 2007 no. 20
Since 1 September 2007 the act has been amended as follows:
Australian citizenship amendment (citizenship testing) act 2007 no. 142
- passed the Senate on 10 September with 2 Government amendments agreed to.
The House of Representatives agreed to the Senate amendments on 12 September 2007.
The act received Royal Assent on 17 September 2007. Sections 1-3 commenced on assent.
The test commenced on 1 October 2007.
Related articles
"Hurdles and barriers for citizenship unnecessary and unwarranted",
media release, FECCA, 10 September 2007
"Australia's new citizenship test commences today",
Minister's media release , 1 October 2007
"Summary report on the outcomes of the public consultation on the merits of introducing a formal citizenship test"
Read the report
"Australian citizenship: much more than a ceremony", discussion paper: Considerations of the merits of introducing a formal citizenship test, September 2006
Read more
Migration Act 1958
IMMI 07/091 Designated migration law, 26 November 2007. This determination makes Subdivision AF of Division 3 part of the designated migration
law for the purposes of subsection 495A(1) of the Act. It allows the Minister to arrange for the use of a computer to grant a Bridging visa
to applicants who have made valid applications for certain substantive visas.
Migration Regulations 1994
From 10 September, the regulations have been amended variously, including by:
Specification under regulation 1.17 and subparagraph 1222(1)(aa)(i) – Classes of persons -
The instrument specifies the classes of persons who can use form 157A or 157A (internet), in the case of an application for a Student (temporary) (Class TU) Visa
Migration amendment regulations 2007 (no. 14) – 19 October – amendments to remove the assurance of support requirements
for carer visas, make changes to the Work and Holiday visa requirements and to rectify an unintended change to the refund power
in reg 2.12F made by Migration amendment regulations 2007 (no. 9)
Migration amendment regulations 2007 (no. 13) – in relation to domestic violence provisions, protection visas, permanent residence of Norfolk Island visas, transit visas, and personal identifiers
Migration amendment regulations 2007 (no. 12) – from 15 October 2007 there is a new requirement for visa applicants to sign a statement that they will respect Australian values
Related information:
Australian values statement and Life in Australia book which provides information about Australian history,
culture and society. Read more
Australian values statement for public interest criterion 4019 (Schedule 4, part 3, clause 3.1) IMMI 07/077. Read
more
Migration amendment regulations 2007 (no. 11) – amendments in relation to on-hire firms
Migration amendment regulations 2007 (no. 10) – amendments to consider certain applications for Contributory parent (migrant) class CA and Contributory aged parent (Residence) class DG – commenced 10/9/07
Migration amendment regulations 2007 (no. 8) – amendments regarding repeal of subclass 471 (trade skills training) visas and associated trade skills training sponsorships – commenced 10/9/07
Migration Amendment Regulations 2007 (No. 9) – amendments to clarify arrangements for nomination and sponsorship of subclass 457 (Business long stay) visas - commenced 10/9/07
Migration Regulations 1994 - Specification under paragraph 457.223(6)(a) and sub clause 457.223(11) of Schedule 2 - Exemptions to the English Language Requirement for the Temporary Business (Long Stay) Visa
Migration Regulations 1994 - Specification under regulations 1.20B, 1.20
G(2) and 1.20GA(1)(a)(i) - Minimum Salary Levels and Occupations for the Temporary Business Long Stay Visa
Migration regulations 1994 – approval under Schedule 4 part 3 clause 3.1 – Australian values statement for public interest criterion 4019 – October 2007 – for the purpose of applicants seeking to satisfy the criteria for the grant of certain visas
Migration Regulations 1994 - Specification under paragraph 457.223(6) (a) and sub clause 457.223(11) of Schedule 2 - Exemptions to the English Language Requirement for the Temporary Business (Long Stay) Visa - October 2007
Migration Regulations 1994 - Specification under regulations 1.20B, 1.20G (2) and 1.20 GA(1)(a)(i) - Minimum Salary Levels and Occupations for the Temporary Business Long Stay Visa - October 2007
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With the calling of the Federal election for 24 November 2007, the 41st Parliament was prorogued on 15 October 2007. All bills before the Senate and House lapsed on prorogation.
The following bills have now lapsed:
-
Migration amendment (sponsorship obligations) bill 2007, introduced into the House on 21 June 2007, seeks to introduce a regime of obligations to be met by employers who are approved sponsors of persons on prescribed visas.
See report of Senate Committee
-
Migration (climate refugees) amendment bill 2007, introduced on 20 June 2007 by Senator Nettles, seeks to create a new visa category to recognise refugees of climate change induced by environmental disasters.
-
Migration legislation amendment (restoration of rights and procedural fairness) bill 2007, introduced on 8 August by Senator Bartlett, seeks to restore rights and procedural fairness to persons affected by decisions under the Migration act.
-
In the meantime, Bills, explanatory memoranda, 2nd reading speeches and status of bills are available at
Parliament's website
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“Minister unmoved by UN’s refugee call” SMH, 13 September 2007, UNHCR representative says Australia should accept 72 Sri Lankans on Nauru assessed as refugees, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship remains committed to finding another country to take them.
Minister’s interview with Fran Kelly, Radio National, 13 September 2007, regarding Sri Lankan refugees held on Nauru
Read more
“Refugees linger in limbo in Nauru”, SMH, 24/9/07, no request for resettlement has yet been made to the six primary candidate countries – Norway,
Denmark, Sweden, The United States and New Zealand Read more
“UN refugee chief calls for new strategies to tackle global displacement”, UN , 2 October 2007, - After several years of decline, the number of refugees fleeing conflict and persecution rose in 2006 and continues to climb in 2007, according to UNHCR. At the end of 2006, UNHCR was caring for 32.9 million people, including nearly 10 million refugees, 13 million people displaced internally within their own countries and 5.8 million stateless people.
Read more
“UN bolsters ties with European network to protect refugees and asylum seekers”, UN News, 29 September 2007 – UNHCR and the European Council on Refugees and Exiles, a network of 76 organisations in 31 countries, agreed to enhance their collaboration to promote better treatment of refugees and asylum seekers.
Read more
“Detainees suffer mental health problems: study”, SMH, 4 October 2007 – the study by the University of NSW’s Centre for Population Mental Health Research, showed that prolonged detention had adverse impacts on adults, families and children. Detainees were likely to attempt suicide or suffer long-term depression for up to three years after their release from detention. In 2004, there were more than 1,500 asylum seekers held in Australia’s seven detention centres.
Read more
“Footballers vanish, seek asylum”, SMH, 19 November 2007 – three Iraqi footballers plan to seek asylum in Australia
Read article
“Passengers from leaky boat headed for detention centre”, SMH, 22 November 2007 – Sixteen Indonesians rescued from a leaking wooden fishing boat in the Timor Sea were taken to Australia’s detention centre on Christmas Island
Read more
“Rescued 16 seeking asylum”, SMH, 22 November 2007 – The rescued Indonesians comprise three families seeking economic asylum in Australia
Read more
“Wrongly detained for two years, then cut adrift”, SMH, 29 November 2007 – A Chinese Falun Gong follower served 27 months in Villawood detention centre before being released with no explanation –
Read more
“A new cohort of refugee students in Perth: challenges for students and educators”, by Jaya Earnest, Curtin University of Technology, 2007 – examines the challenges faced by adolescent refugees in acquiring an Australian education
Read more
“African Australian experiences put under the microscope for first time” – the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission will examine the experiences of African Australians and African Muslim Australians next year. The African Muslim Communities in Australia project’s steering committee will meet soon to develop initiatives that will inform future policy and research in the area.
Read more
“Govt starts ‘Pacific Solution’ shutdown”, ABC, 10 December 2007, The Government granted refugee status to seven Burmese men being held on Nauru http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/10/113853.htm
Read more
“Diverted to Nauru”, by Ariane Rummery, article in Refugees Magazine no. 168, December 2007, pp.29-30 – tells the story of refugees taken from M.V. Tampa to Nauru in 2001
Read more
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Armenia
-
“Nagorno-Karabakh: risking war”, International Crisis Group Europe report no.187, 14 November 2007
See media release
Asia
-
“Preference for sons in Asia could have severe social consequences:
UN agency” UN News, 30 October 2007. India and China have the most dramatic imbalance in gender ratios. Skewed sex ratios are also likely in Nepal and Viet Nam
unless inequality is addressed. Read more
Bangladesh
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“Bangladesh’s state of emergency is unjustifiable and ensuring abuses of human rights” statement submitted by
Asian Legal Resource Centre to the 6th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, 6 September 2007. Read
more
-
“Cyclone devastates Bangladesh” 19 November 2007. Read the news
-
“Post-cyclone situation in Bangladesh much worse than understood – UN agencies”, UN News, 4 December 2007. Read more
Burma/Myanmar
-
“Outrage as regime cracks down”, SMH, 27/9/07 –
World leaders comment on actions of the military junta against protesters
Read more
-
“Myanmar: time for urgent action”, International Crisis Group, 25/9/07. Read more
-
“Myanmar attacks protesters, arresting monks”, New York Times, 27/9/07 - Security forces clubbed and
tear-gassed protesters and arrested hundreds of monks who are at the heart of the demonstrations
Read more
-
“Untold story: how Burma brutalised its monks”, SMH, 8 October 2007,
Read more
-
“UN human rights envoy visits Burma”, SMH, 12 November 2007, A UN envoy was allowed to enter
Burma for the first time in four years on a mission to determine how many people have been killed
or detained since the start of the crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.
Read more
-
“Child soldiers a problem in Myanmar”, Jakarta Post, 5 December 2007. Read more
-
“Burma political psychosis and legal dementia”, Asian Legal Resource Centre. Read article
-
“Crackdown: repression of the 2007 popular protests in Burma” , December 2007 - Read more
Czech Republic
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“Discrimination win for Roma” 15 November 2007, SMH, the European Court of Human Rights found Czech
authorities guilty of discrimination against Roma children by wrongly channelling them into remedial education schools.
Read article
Fiji
-
“Australia warns of Fiji violence”, SMH, 8 October 2007 – DFAT upgraded its travel advisory to a level 3 indicating a “high degree of caution”
Read article
-
“Fijian coup leader sets deadline for election”, SMH, 18 October 2007 – Bainimarana promises to hold free elections within 18 months and abide by the results
Read article
Georgia
-
“UN rights boss rebukes Georgia for use of force”, Reuters, 8 November 2007, The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour,
was worried about reports of disproportionate use of force, including against Georgia’s Public Defender, the detention of
opposition leaders and the beating of demonstrators.
Read article
Greece
-
“UN Refugee agency concerned by surge of arrivals by sea into Greece, UN News, 6 October 2007 –
the number of asylum seekers and migrants arriving by boat has increased greatly this year leading to
overcrowding and hygiene concerns in Greece’s detention centres. Read more
-
“Greece, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to hold UN-led talks on name”, UN News, 6 December 2007,
Read more
Iraq
-
Iraq
“Iraq: Un reports widespread rights abuses, urges response measures”, UN News, 15 October 2007 – recommends due process for detainees, punishment for perpetrators of “honour killings”,
and investigations into deaths caused by private military firms operating in Iraq
Read more
Kenya
-
“8,000 killed in sect crackdown”, SMH, 26 November 2007, since 2002, 8,000 Kenyans have been executed
or tortured to death in a police crackdown on the banned, politically-linked Mungiki sect
Read the story
Kosovo
-
“Kosovo: UN agency, mission help Roma families return to former neighbourhood”, UN News, 18 October 2007. Read more
-
“Kosovo separatists heading for power”, SMH, 19 November 2007, the former Kosovo guerrilla leader, whose party favours independence from Serbia,
has claimed victory in the parliamentary elections. Read the article
-
“Top UN envoy to Kosovo says minority interests will be protected after polls”, UN News, 20 November 2007.
Many Kosovo Serbs did not participate in the general elections but they still need to be represented in public institutions
Read more
-
“Serbs ready to flee as Kosovo on war’s edge” 3 December 2007, SMH, Read the article
-
“Serbs warn against declaration of independence”, SMH, 10 December 2007, Read the article
-
“Kosovo status talks failed to produce agreement, says report to Security Council”, UN News, 14 December 2007 – Belgrade and Pristina have been unable to reach agreement on the final status of Kosovo, the Serbian province administered by the UN since 1999,
despite four months of high level negotiations, Read more
Muldova
-
“Police torture and ill-treatment: it’s just normal”, Amnesty International report
Nepal
-
“UN rushes aid to 5,000 Nepalese uprooted by communal violence”, UN News Centre, 27/9/07,
-
“UNESCO Chief speaks out against murder of Nepalese journalist”, UN, 15 November 2007 – independent journalists and
media companies have become the subject of increasing bullying by the Maoist Party of Nepal. - United Nation News
-
“UN urges Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist to co-operate on minors”, UN News, 24 November 2007, Read more
Pakistan
-
“Comment: U.S. still supports Musharraf”, Richard Beeston, The Times, 11 September 2007...
Read more
-
“Court expected to ratify poll win”, SMH, 10 October 2007 – President Musharraf waits for Supreme Court ruling on legality of his
sweeping election win...Read article
-
“Pakistan: the forgotten conflict in Balochistan”, 22 October 2007 – The insurgency in the Balochistan province will
only subside when free elections establish a legitimate government to replace Pakistan’s current military dictatorship...
Read more
-
“Khan escapes amid Pakistan crackdown” 5 November 2007, SMH, President Musharraf suspended the constitution,
swept aside the Supreme Court and declared that he would rule by decree... Read more
-
“Musharraf likely to bow to world pressure”, SMH, 8 November 2007, Read article
-
“Pakistan army given powers to try civilians” SMH, 12 November 2007, Read article
-
“Hero’s welcome for exiled Sharif”, SMH, 26 November 2007, Read article
-
“End of an era as Musharraf hands over his army baton”, SMH, 29 November 2007, Read article
Philippines
-
“Philippines: Military executing leftist activists, UN independent expert finds”, UN News, 27 November 2007 -
The Government has recently undertaken a range of reforms but still no soldier has been prosecuted or punished for extrajudicial
executions against leftist activists over the last 6 years – Read more
Russia
-
“200 detained in new anti-Putin demo in St Petersburg”, SMH, 26 November 2007, Read story
Slovakia
-
Slovakia
“Slovakia: Romani children denied equal education free from discrimination” Amnesty International, 15 November 2007 –
huge numbers of Romani children are still being placed disproportionately in special schools for children with mental disabilities and learning difficulties, or segregated in Roma-only schools.
Read more
-
“Slovakia still separate, still unequal: violations of the right to education of Romani children in Slovakia”,
Amnesty International, November 2007... Read article
Sri Lanka
-
“Torture widely practised in Sri Lanka, says UN human rights expert”, 30 October 2007, United Nations, Read more
-
“Sri Lanka: Sinhala nationalism and the elusive southern consensus”, International Crisis Group, Asia report no. 141, 7 November 2007
Read more
-
“Security incidents drive more Sri Lankans to flee their homes – UN Agency”, UN News, 24 November 2007. Read more
Thailand
-
“Southern Thailand: the problem with paramilitaries”, International Crisis Group, Asia Report no. 140, 23 October 2007...
Read the report
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-
October 2008: Global Forum on Migration and Development, 2nd, UN-backed meeting in the Philippines to look at protecting the rights of
the world’s 200 million migrants
-
20 February 2009: World Day of Social Justice. Starting in 2009, the United Nations General Assembly has decided to observe 20 February
annually as World Day of Social Justice to recognise the need to tackle issues such as poverty, exclusion and unemployment on a national level.
Parish Patience welcomes two new lawyers who are registered migration agents, Stewart Coulson and Jia (Jack) Li.
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Our professionals make regular trips overseas. We are able to advise applicants for all categories of migration to Australia
as well as student visas. Applicants for most skilled migration categories must have English language fluency, recognised
qualifications, recent employment experience and need to be under 45 years of age.
Interstate
Our staff regularly travel to Melbourne, Canberra and other capitals for consultations with prospective visa
applicants. Prospective applicants should contact Immigration Inquiries for an appointment, or ring telephone +61 2 9286 8700 or 1300 850 695 from within Australia.
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Manupatra
Manupatra is an India-centric web based online legal database.
While most of the content is available only on subscription there are some free features:
-
Round up – email sent every 10 days describing regulatory, procedural and legislative changes
-
Articles – written by lawyers, professionals and law students on legal and business issues
- News – abstracted daily from 14 leading newspapers across India under four headings – Legal, Policy making, Capital markets and IPR
Language is filled
With words for deprivation
Images so familiar
It is hard to crack language open
Into that other country
The country of being
Susan Griffin: Hunger (1986) - after photographs of refugees from famine in the Sahel were exhibited in Paris, May 1986
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Contact Us
Parish Patience Immigration
Lawyers
Level 1, State Street Centre
338 Pitt Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia
Tel: +61 2 9286 8700
or: 1300 850 695 (within Australia)
Fax: +61 2 9283 3323
Email: 
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