Tuesday 31st December 1996
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Immigration Minister Phillip Ruddock yesterday announced that the number of independent migrants would be dropped to only 15,000 this year with the number of migrants under the concessional family category being restricted to just 7,300.
The Immigration Minister said that the Government had a waiting list of 99,000 applicants in both categories - a legacy passed on from the Keating Government.
A spokesman for Mr Ruddock said, "These are the only tools we have available to increase the skilled portion of the migrant intake and not to allow preferential family migrant numbers to run unchecked."
The Government aims to cut the overall intake of migrants to 74,000 down from 99,000 in the year 1995-96. Last year the Keating Government capped the number of independent migrants at 10,600 because of a blow out in the number of people entering Australia under the family reunion category.
This blow out is partly to blame for the "Asian-invasion" fears by a large slice of the Australian population.
The change in numbers by category will actually go a long way in meeting the recommendations of Independent MP Pauline Hanson - who was called a racist by the media for her views that Asian migration should be slowed - yet, as the changes have been introduced by the Coalition Government it is interesting that this "racist" link has not even been raised by the mainstream media....
Fischer said on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Radio's Country Hour, "I support the provision of absolute certainty for pastoral leaseholders, and the best way that might be effected could well be by some sort of legislation.
"But we cannot, in 48 hours, produce a legal magic wand to fix the uncertainty which the High Court has created progressively over a period of 48 months.
"We had thought the High Court would clarify the situation, it has not done so. The Parliament has a role and a responsibility. The Government has a role and a responsibility. We're getting on with it."
In an interesting development a Queen's Council representing an Aboriginal tribe has started placing advertisements in the Australian newspaper warning that any attempt to overturn the decision would be seen as a racist act and that it would do irreparable damage to our image in the eyes of our Asian neighbours.
Interesting because even blind Larry can see the lawyers in this country enjoying the biggest gravy boat of legal activity dawning on a new horizon of wealth and prosperity largely funded by the Australian tax payer - and going into their personal or business coffers.
The Chief Minister for the Northern Territory, Shane Stone, said this morning that the lawyers were already preparing claims against owners of pastoral properties for "royalties", compensation and other payments... in the event that native title is secured over the property.
I can see the "so called" reconciliation going right out of the window.... very shortly, and some lawyers in this country need the biggest boot up the backside.
The Monash University study is aimed at predicting spending habits 5 years hence in the years 2002-2003. It predicts that the sectors with the worst prospect for growth will be textiles, clothing and footwear as well as public administration and defence.
The expectations are that the tourism industry will continue to boom with an annual growth of 10.5% per annum.
Have a great new year's eve and a fabulous 1997... I have every expectation that Australia, its peoples, its wildlife and its environment will continue to do so as we move towards the year 2000.
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