Australia, Indonesia to Start talks on Free Trade

Bilateral government talks between Australia and Indonesia are continuing for a second day in Sydney.

Agreements already reached include a recommendation for negotiations to begin on a bilateral free trade agreement and the joint coordination of a meeting in Bali on illegal immigration.

Addressing a dinner marking the 20th anniversary of the Australia-Indonesia Institute last night, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the two countries are also working closely on strategies to combat the global financial crisis to take to the forthcoming G20 meeting in London.

"When the rest of the world looks at a developed country of Christian heritage [Australia] working in close and effective collaboration with the largest Muslim country in the world, this actually has a very powerful message to those beyond our region," Mr Rudd said.

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Australian Immigration Levels Continue to Rise

(Photo Credits: www.facsia.gov.au)

The Australian Census for 2006 has revealed that 44 per cent of Australians were either born overseas or have at least one parent born in a country other than Australia. It also revealed that the number of Asian immigrants is rapidly increasing, and is quickly catching up to European levels.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, almost one quarter of Australia’s 20 million-plus population was born overseas, and four-fifths of these people lived in Australia’s capital cities.

The news comes in the wake of the 60th year of Australia’s Nationality and Citizenship Act. As part of the celebrations, approximately 13,000 people from 120 countries became Australian Citizens. There has been huge debate about the Australian visa system in recent months, with the government promising that the number of visas granted would continue to grow, rather than be cut back, as some critics have demanded.

Questions have been raised as to whether the government should reduce its skilled migration programme in line with the current economic climate. However, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Evans, has said he will wait for the 2009-10 Budget before any amendments will be made.

Read the full news at Migration News Section, Embraceaustralia.com
By: Leaonne Hall