With the recently released Australian National Budget 2010-11, the federal government announced that it would be more focused on the skilled migration program and addressing the problems like skills shortages. However, the government will keep the size of the program same as it is now.

The country’s immigration minister said that the overall migration program is going to be the same as it is at present with a total of 168,700 places, including 54,550 places for family stream; 113,850 places for skill stream; and other 300 special eligibility places. The government has also made it clear that its main focus would be on employer-sponsored skilled migration.

Below are a few more highlights of the budget plan for 2010-11 on immigration front:

• For the year 2010-11, the net level of skilled migration is boosted by 5750. Along, the employer-sponsored skilled migration program will get a supplementary 9150 places, which will be balanced by a reduction of 3600 GSM places.
• A total of 200 supplementary visas will also be offered under the business skills visa category.
• The family migration level will be lessen by 5750 places.
• The mining, along with construction sectors gain a funding of 300 million dollars to counter skills shortages.
• A total of 772 million Australian dollars funding will go towards primary health care; 355 million dollars (Australian) for the betterment of existing clinics; and 523 million dollars (Australian) towards assisting nurses.

All these measures are said to be a part of the federal government’s assurance to bolster the economy. The Australian immigration minister believes the new structure of the migration program would help the government’s goal of meeting the shortages of highly skilled workers in the country in fields like engineering, mining and healthcare.