Australia will this year review visa rules for wealthy would-be migrants, mostly Chinese, a government official said on Wednesday, as the country tightens requirements for granting residency rights.
He did not elaborate on the changes under review but hinted at the need to be proficient in English.
The announcement comes only days after Australia axed a temporary work visa popular with foreigners, replacing it with a tougher programme, and raised the bar for attaining citizenship.
Nearly 90 percent of applicants for the Significant Investor Visas are Chinese who need to bring in a minimum A$5 million (2.90 million pounds) to become eligible for Australian residency.
"The programme has to be designed to meet the Australian economy's needs. You will have the opportunity to directly have a say in the review and your feedback will be considered by the department," Assistant Immigration Minister Alex Hawke said at a Chinese in Australia seminar in Sydney.
"...The expectation from the Australian community is that migrants have competent English," he said. "I don't think that is unfair."
Australia has seen the rise of nationalist, anti-immigration politics with far-right wing parties such as One Nation garnering strong public support, while the popularity of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's ruling centre-right government has been languishing.
Many Chinese millionaires seek to move to Australia for a better lifestyle, although some may also seek to avoid a sweeping corruption crackdown in China that is prompting many wealthy Chinese to move their money.
Australia tightened SIV rules in 2015 requiring applicants to invest in small-cap and venture capital funds while barring them from direct property investment - a move that many immigration lawyers say has led to fading appeal for the visa.
Hawke emphasised the government was committed to the programme, responding to a question about rumours in China that Australia was looking to scrap the visa.
Immigration is a sensitive issue in Australia which maintains a strict policy of not allowing asylum seekers who try to reach the country by boat to settle there, instead detaining them in controversial camps on Nauru and in Papua New Guinea.
Reuters
Wed May 03 2017
Nearly 90 percent of applicants for the Significant Investor Visas are Chinese who need to bring in a minimum A$5 million to become eligible for Australian residency.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Ramasamy perlu bertanggungjawab jika pengundi pilih pemimpin tidak tepat - Ramanan
Jika kempen tolak undi PH itu berjaya, Ramasamy perlu berdepan penduduk Kuala Kubu Baharu sekiranya timbul masalah pada masa hadapan.
Jiwa SME: Permintaan daun moringa meningkat, jadi tumpuan luar negara
Berdasarkan laporan Vodus Market Research, sebuah firma penyelidikan dan analisis data pasaran dalam talian, kira-kira 71 peratus penduduk di negara ini mengambil suplemen pada 2021.
Nilai pasaran suplemen negara juga menunjukkan peningkatan ketara dalam tempoh 2014 hingga 2019, iaitu daripada RM2.07 bilion kepada RM3.1 bilion. Angka itu dijangka terus meningkat pada masa akan datang.
Nilai pasaran suplemen negara juga menunjukkan peningkatan ketara dalam tempoh 2014 hingga 2019, iaitu daripada RM2.07 bilion kepada RM3.1 bilion. Angka itu dijangka terus meningkat pada masa akan datang.
Biden kekal tidak sokong pencerobohan di Rafah
Mesej itu disampaikan menerusi perbualan telefon dengan Perdana Menteri Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu pada Ahad.
Biden kekal tidak sokong pencerobohan di Rafah
Presiden Amerika Syarikat, Joe Biden bercakap dengan Perdana Menteri Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, pada Ahad.
Tiga perkara perlu dilakukan bagi elak kemusnahan di Gaza
Presiden Palestin Mahmoud Abbas menyuarakan tiga perkara yang perlu diberikan pertimbangan masyarakat dunia dan mengiktiraf Palestin sebagai negara merdeka termasuk ahli penuh Persatuan Bangsa Bangsa Bersatu (PBB). Beliau berkata demikian di Mesyuarat Khas Forum Ekonomi Dunia (WEF) di Riyadh hari ini.
Delegasi Hamas ke Kaherah bincang gencatan senjata
Satu delegasi Hamas akan melawat Kaherah untuk rundingan yang bertujuan untuk mendapatkan gencatan senjata, pada Isnin.
37 juta tan serpihan runtuhan di Gaza - UNMAS
Pusingan konflik Palestin-Israel yang bermula pada Oktober 2023 telah meninggalkan kira-kira 37 juta tan serpihan runtuhan di Semenanjung Gaza.
WCK sambung misi bantuan di Gaza
World Central Kitchen (WCK) menyambung semula operasi di Semenanjung Gaza, pada Isnin.
Protes di universiti A.S tidak tunjuk tanda perlahan
Protes di universiti Amerika Syarikat tidak menunjukkan tanda perlahan pada hujung minggu dengan lebih banyak tangkapan di kampus dan pertempuran singkat antara penunjuk perasaan pro-Israel dan pro-Palestin di UCLA California.
Banjir ragut 76 nyawa di seluruh Kenya
Daerah Nairobi terjejas teruk akibat banjir dengan hampir 17,000 isi rumah dipindahkan.