Immigration Minister On ABC TV tonight at 9.30PM,

**proud2beaussie** · 12-07-2010, 07:12 AM

Just a note to tell anyone who may be interested that the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship ,Senator Chris Evans will be appearing on ABC TV's "Q &A" program tonight at
9.30PM Austraian Eastern Standard Time.
Anyone wishing to ask a question of the miniister can do so by going to
Q&A | ABC TV
All questions submitted will appear on the program website and the shorted questions are more likely to be used on the program.
The best questions submitted will be answered on the program tonight.
Hope this helps
Cheers
Nigel

**Alan Collett** · 12-07-2010, 08:40 AM

Question submitted!

Best regards.

**proud2beaussie** · 12-07-2010, 08:52 AM

Hi alan,
I suspect that the focus of the program may be more directed towards the asylum seeker issue however with Julia Gillard seeming to have moved away from Rudd's "Big Australia" plan then there may well be
questions asked about migration policy generally.
Let's hope so.
Cheers
Nigel
Edited to add: Ihave just moticed that last weeks program touched on the issue of skilled migration vs sustainable population,the transcript is here:
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/qanda/txt/s2939217.htm

**Alan Collett** · 12-07-2010, 08:59 AM

My question asks whether the Minister sees the size of the skilled and 457 visa programs as being linked to the economic fortunes of Australia. If so, what does a reduction of the programs say about the economic stewardship of the country under his Government.

Best regards.

**proud2beaussie** · 12-07-2010, 09:04 AM

Interesting that a look at the transcript from last weeks show has the new Minister for Population (Shouldn't the Immi minister have some say in that) saying this:

TONY BURKE: There’s a range of views that get raised. That’s one of them. Yes, that’s true. I take issue, obviously, with how much money you’re saying is being spent on an individual asylum seeker but if I can go to your point, which - I think I can summarise it fairly by saying, “Why is isn’t this better coordinated?” And when you go to some of the examples there, because I know we’ve spoken a bit about asylum seekers already, but when you also go to the examples about skilled migration, I think your point is a perfect example. We have, to some extent, stated to address this one. But where you’ve got big shortages of nurses and for a long time we were bringing in a whole lot of cooks and hairdressers. And people do support a skilled migration program, but they want it to be targeted so that it’s the skills we really need and people are then going and living in the communities where we need those workers and have we improved it since we came into government? Yes, I believe we have. I think we’ve got a good record there. But does it go far enough? Not for a minute. Not for a minute. And that’s why my portfolio has been created. I mean for years now people have sat around at barbeques in Australia and said, “How come you don’t bring these policy areas together?” Neither side of politics has ever done it. We’re now having a go at starting to coordinate those issues and not simply to say, you know, a bigger population is, by definition, better. What matters is that we’re sustainable, that we plan it, that the infrastructure matches where people are living. I don’t think that we’ll be able to do it perfectly. I’ve no doubt we’ll be able to do it better than we have.

**User Name** · 12-07-2010, 01:46 PM

The whole think was about assylum seekers, then to some internet filter and child pornography. GSM was completely ignored. CE does sound like a control freak.

**proud2beaussie** · 12-07-2010, 09:26 PM

Originally Posted by User Name

The whole think was about assylum seekers, then to some internet filter and child pornography. GSM was completely ignored. CE does sound like a control freak.

That's a shame,I had hoped that he would take the chance to say something about skilled migration which is why I posted the thread.
Oh well I guess we shall have to wait till the election is called and then he may be more interested in answering questions about government policy.

**theluckyrocky** · 12-07-2010, 11:35 PM

The minister is keen on saying that his ideal world is a job for each migrant. I have been an accountant in regional australia for almost two years since I graduated from Adelaide Uni in 2008 and applied for permanent resident visa. Do I deserve my visa after waiting for 2 years?
I believe everyone got a job related to his or her nominated occupation and stuck in the limbo deserve a visa.

anyone got any advise on the question that might help to improve its chance to be presented in the program please leave you replay.......Thank you!

**proud2beaussie** · 12-07-2010, 11:40 PM

anyone got any advise on the question that might help to improve its chance to be presented in the program please leave you replay.......Thank you!

Unfortunately the program was on last night and the minister did not answer any questions about skilled
migration,the program focussed on asylum seekers,as this thread is now irrelevant I will close it.
But I do think this program could be very interesting to keep an eye on over the next few weeks,there are bound to be more shows about immigration as we head towards the election.