DIM VIEW OF DIMIA DATE DEBACLE

CAPA President Benjamin McKay is concerned that recent changes that are designed to increase the rate of skilled migration to Australia are actually excluding many current students who would be eligible. On March 31 this year Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, Philip Ruddock, announced changes to migration regulations to take effect on July 1, 2003 within the general skilled migration category.

"CAPA welcomes changes that increase the capacity for skilled migration to this country," McKay said. "But the retrospective increase from one to two years study before students can qualify for the bonus points or work experience exemption will, with the new deadline being imposed, discriminate against those international students currently in the Australian Higher Education sector."

"CAPA would like the Minister to exempt from these changes all those international students currently enrolled, enrolling, or already eligible to apply from the deadline of July 1, 2003," McKay said. "It is unfortunate that these changes were made public after the census cut-off for Australian university course withdrawals. International students may have been able to make appropriate choices with advance warning."

"Penalising international students currently within the system can only damage any reservoir of much needed good will these students may have toward towards higher education in Australia. The recruitment of international students has been acknowledged as an important source of Higher Education funding. I would suggest that Minister Ruddock needs to talk with Minister Nelson about these changes as soon as possible," McKay concluded.