Australia likely to cut immigration, says minister
Australia will likely cut the number of skilled immigrants allowed into the country next year, following the global economic downturn, the government said Monday.
"I expect the numbers of our programme to drop next year as a reaction to the economic circumstances," Immigration Minister Chris Evans told reporters.
He gave no indication of the size of the cut, but said the government would also reconsider which occupations should be on the critical skills list.
"We will probably have a formal look at that in the next couple of weeks," Evans said.
Around 190,300 migrants were projected to arrive over 2008/09, with skilled workers accounting for most places in a programme designed when the forecast was for rapid economic growth and a skills crisis.
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