06 August 2008

Department of Immigration tightens regional border security

Senator Chris Evans, Minister for the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), has flown to South-East Asia this week to discuss people-smuggling issues. The eight-day forum will focus on cooperation between Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia in an effort to harness the people-smuggling trade and tighten regional border security.

The Senator is looking to improve migration management so that more foreigners can lawfully enter Australia on Australian visas, rather than risking their lives or freedom by being smuggled into the country. 

"Indonesia, along with Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore are key partners for Australia and our Governments are committed to close, practical working relationships," Senator Evans said. 

"We are doing a lot together to improve border security, including thorough forensic document examination programs and initiatives to detect people who seek to travel on fake or altered passports.

"We are also exploring ways to better share information between countries in the region on immigration issues and trends which will help prevent people-smuggling, human trafficking and other forms of trans-national crime."

DIAC has recently increased its quota for Australian immigration so that more foreign workers can move to Australia and fill skills shortages in the workforce.  Senator Evans also recently announced the minimum salary levels for temporary 457 visas and skilled workers part of the Employer Nomination Scheme have been increased to ensure the rights of foreign workers are better protected. 

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The Australian Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in helping people apply for an Australia visa.

Article by Jessica Bird, Australian Visa Bureau.