More skilled immigration proposed for Australia

Australian immigration could be accepting up to 180,000 migrants within two years. This would be the highest intake since the late 1960's. The Australian Industry Group has lobbied the government to add up 20,000 skilled places for the Skilled Migration Program. This would bring the total for skilled immigration for 2006/2007 to 160,000. A further 20,000 places are called for by the AIG the following year. This total would be the second highest number of skilled immigrants to Australia since 1969/1970 when 185,000 workers immigrated. Last year, the Government increased skilled migration by 20,000 places after pressure from the AIG and other business groups.

Wow, 180,000 skilled immigrants for 2006/2007? Compare that to the 140,000 per year that the U.S. allows. Specially when you look at it percentage wise and you consider that the total population of Australia is only 20 million while that of the U.S. is 295 million. Also, Australia like Canada uses a point-based system for skilled immigration which I feel is a more efficient system compared to that of the U.S.

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