Media Conference: Parliamentary Joint Committee on Migration
11 September, 2006
Overseas skills recognition –Negotiating the Maze
Initiatives to improve the efficiency of Australia’s overseas skills recognition arrangements are discussed in a new report, Negotiating the Maze: Review of Arrangements for Overseas Skills Recognition, Upgrading and Licensing, released today by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Migration.
“A strong commitment to training local workers and improving the skill levels of our current workforce is essential. However, skilled migration is an additional way of addressing the immediate skills shortage facing Australia,” Committee Chairman Don Randall said.
“There is concern that the level of skills of those coming into the country is equivalent to Australian quality and safety standards and that lower skilled workers are not used to undercut the wages of existing workers. People need to know that Australia’s skills recognition system is fair and well-managed.”
AMP Limited today reported a 7 per cent increase in underlying profit to A$420 million for the six months to 30 June 2006, reflecting strong cashflows, growth in assets under management and lower unit costs.
Underlying contribution is AMP’s preferred measure of profitability as it removes investment market volatility, and is the basis for calculation of AMP’s dividends to shareholders.
McCALLUM: Firstly my name's Robert McCallum. I'm the new ambassador for the United States of America to the Commonwealth of Australia. I want to introduce to you my wife Mimi who is here with me today and I'm looking forward to trying to field and respond to any questions that you might have for me so who wants to start off?
QUESTION: Why did it take so long for you to get here?
McCALLUM: Well I would I have facetiously responded to that on a number of occasions by saying it was because President Bush wanted to pick the person that he would think would be the most enthusiastic and energetic in coming to Australia and that I certainly qualify on both enthusiasm and eagerness to get going in this very important work of continuing the close relationship and cooperation with one of our most significant allies in the entire world.
I think the real answer to that as to why it takes so long is the manner of confirmation process and we have a significant and important check in balance in our Constitution that requires the advice and consent of the Senate and so at a minimum it takes 4 to 5 months and it did in my circumstances, it often at times takes longer and it's a process in which someone has to submit themselves to all sorts of public disclosures and divest themselves of investments, things of that nature. Resign from boards and many people find that to be burdensome. The Senate takes its responsibility seriously as well it should as it is a serious responsibility and its just one of those processes that we Americans think are very important, if its in our Constitution and that's why it takes longer than what people outside of the United States normally think should be the case.
The Hon Wilson Tuckey MP. Resumption of debate on the 2nd reading and on the amendment moved by Mr S. Smith, Cognate debate with Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Independent Contractors) Bill 2006.
Topic: New Developments in Treaty Making and Reviews. Chair: Russell Trood Speakers:
Michael L'Estrange, Secretary of Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Associate Professor Greg Rose, University of Wollongong
Professor Aynsley Kellow, University of Tasmania Duration: 1hour 10 mins
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