Those migrants are then more likely to contribute financially through taxes than they are to claim government support.
The paper acknowledges that population growth has not happened uniformly across the country and that solutions need to be found to fully reap the benefits of immigration. Despite some opposition due to concerns about lack of infrastructure, congestion and pollution, the current Australian government is supportive of migration to remain at the current level.
Visa changesTo support the focus on skilled migration a number of visa changes have been introduced. In a recent move, the Australian government changed the amount an Australian resident needs to earn in order to be guarantor for parent, aged dependent and other relative visa categories. The increase is linked to the Newstart Allowance, which is the main income support payment for people who are unemployed and looking for work.
In some instances the amount an Australian resident is required to earn in order to be able to agree to assume financial responsibility for a new migrant has almost doubled. As an example, a single person wanting to offer assurance of support for both parents is now required to earn $86,606.52 per year where previously it was $45,185.40. Families wishing to bring relatives from overseas will also need to have an increased amount of financial security to support some new migrant categories from April next year.
The change to the assurance of support scheme was made on the 1st of April but does not affect applications made before this date. The increase is the first in a decade and has been implemented to ensure Australia’s social security system remains sustainable. Visas affected are those with a mandatory assurance of support which include subclass 103 – parent, subclass 143 – contributory parent, and subclass 864 – contributory aged parent.
Other changes to the assurance of support scheme stipulate that potential assurers must be in Australia at the time of making an application, and that any person who has an outstanding Commonwealth debt is ineligible to provide assurance of support.