A key challenge for the Australian Government remains - to communicateclearly that there is no automatic link between study in Australia and access to permanent residency.
We conduct a skilled migration program that seeks to attract youngmigrants with high quality skills in the areas of skills shortage inAustralia.
The priorities for migration must be the needs of the Australianeconomy. Therefore the skills and qualifications we seek in migrantswill vary over time. The Australian Government will adjust the programto meet our national needs and not be driven by the education choices of overseas students.
Those who seek to market access to a permanent visa in Australia ratherthan a quality education do a grave disservice to potential students.
The Deputy Prime Minister and I have announced a review of themigration occupations in demand list, the MODL, which is due to reportat the end of October this year.
The MODL is the skills migration targeting mechanism that provides a framework for forward planning.
The intention is to make the MODL more forward looking, thus puttingthe onus on the temporary and permanent employer sponsored visacategories to respond to the current skills shortages.