FED: Migration to rise 2,000 in 1999/2000, says Ruddock

AAP General News (Australia)
04-29-1999
FED: Migration to rise 2,000 in 1999/2000, says Ruddock

SYDNEY, April 29 AAP - Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock today said Australia's migrant
intake would rise by 2,000 to 82,000 in 1999/2000.

Mr Ruddock said the government had responded to calls by industry, states and territories
for more skilled migrants by earmarking a "contingency reserve" of 5,000 skilled places if
they were needed.

The 1999/2000 humanitarian program remained stable at 12,000, which included about 10,000
places for overseas applicants from places like the former Yugoslavia, he said.

The non-humanitarian program had been set at 70,000 places - up from 68,000 in 1998/99, he
said.

There were 32,000 places for family reunions, up from 30,500 last year; 35,000 places for
skilled migrants, the same level as 1998/99; and 3,000 in a special eligibility category, up
500 from last year.

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KEYWORD: MIGRATION RUDDOCK

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