I find the reports of Immigration Minister Andrew Giles reducing bureaucratic impediments for skilled people to come to Australia to address our skills shortage quite intriguing and completely at odds with the actions of the department. At the same time that this is occurring, we have a bank of incredible talent that may be languishing in our Immigration detention Centres both on and offshore. No government in the last 15 years has bothered to undertake an audit of the skills and talents that these people may have. For all we know a considerable number of the talents and skills we are lacking in at the moment could be addressed herein.
Further, an area where I have done an enormous amount of advocacy in, relates to those people who may have one or more members of their family who happens to have a disability. For example, at the present time, I am advocating for a family whose mother is a Cyber Security expert. But because her son has Down syndrome we have classified him as a “burden to the taxpayer” (an abhorrent term that dehumanises this person with disability). And as per the Migration Act we have denied the family permanent residency visas.
Likewise I have a family whose parents are both PhD’s. The daughter of the family is an outstanding Concert Pianist and has just completed her Year 12 exams with an ATAR score of 98%. This is yet another case where the residency visa has been denied on specious grounds.
There is a lot of scope for Minister Giles to streamline the process. That must start with those people already here in Australia.
Suresh Rajan
