Will Australian citizenship requirements change in 2019? The Australian Government has been trying to introduce changes to the Australian citizenship law that would require permanent residents to wait longer and provide evidence of their English proficiency before applying for citizenship.

New visa for parents of Australian migrants to be available in 2019 Promised in 2016, but stalled until related legislation was passed, the temporary sponsored parent visa is now available to migrants. Although hugely welcomed, some opposition and migrant groups are unhappy the visa is different from what was initially promised.

Australia announces two new visa agreements providing that provide pathways to permanent residency The new visa agreement allows employers to sponsor skilled workers with some possible concessions to specific occupations, English language requirements and salary levels. In a bid to distribute the migrant population outside of Australia’s major cities such as Sydney and Melbourne, the Australian government has drafted the Designation Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs).

Why so many migrants choose to settle in Melbourne Melbourne has long been known as a centre of multiculturalism in Australia. For generations, migrants have chosen to settle in Melbourne, with large populations of Italian, Greek, Vietnamese and African origin. This trend has continued in recent years, with Melbourne residents giving almost every country in the world as their country of birth in the 2016 census.

How immigration could drive science and innovation in Australia According a leading Australian think-tank, immigration may the key to driving much needed science and innovation in Australia. Innovation and Science Australia recently handed a report to the Turnbull Government which outlines a suite of recommendations which it sees as necessary to take the country into the future.