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Shipping to Australia? We’ll find you the best price!Slow Economy Leads to Cut in Immigration Levels
In February 2009, for the first time in eight years, Australia cut its annual immigration levels due to the bad economy and weak demand for skilled labor. This is having a dramatic affect on an entire industry sector based on immigration to Australia. With fewer visas being issued, businesses which have been making their profits by helping people to move to Australia are seeing their numbers drop. And this is causing the same effect in other industries such as housing, car rentals and shipping.
Immigration Minister Chris Evans said “It is fair to say that we expect the demand in the economy for labor to reduce. As it (The Permanent Migration Program) is a program very much linked to the demand for labor, we expect to run a smaller program.”
In March 2009 the Government reduced the year’s immigration target by 14%. Meanwhile, the Permanent Migration Program for skilled migrants was slashed to 115,000 people. All this translates into a sharp drop in service prices most used by immigrants. For example, since there is less of a need for shipping to Australia, many companies are cutting prices to try to attract more business.
