G'Day Americans,

Today I attended a Federal Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Migration at Mount Gambier in South Australia.

The Committee received submissions and discussed issues related to migration schemes.

The migration arrangements, known as State-specific Migration Mechanisms, include matching migrants to skilled jobs that can't be filled locally. There is also provision to grant concessions in relation to some of the normal migration requirements for those wishing to settle in regional areas.

State Governments, employers and families can all sponsor migrants to settle in regional Australia.

The multi-party Committee has been set up by the Minister for Migration and Multicultural Affairs to review and report on the mechanisms, including steps that might be taken to increase take-up, and other mechanisms which might be developed.

Migration

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Personal comment: Regional Australia needs your skills. If you are a doctor or have medical qualifications you will find rural Australia willing to discuss assisting you. The meeting indicated to me a complete change in attitude from our Federals. They actually are doing something constructive for rural Australia. Well, they're making good noises anyway.

SEEDB
This links to the South East Economic Development Board
SEIE
This links to the South East Internet Exchange, a site that is useful but isn't completed.

I have no personal reason or vested interest in posting this tonight. I just figured that as the deep freeze gets you down your mind might drift off to distant warm horizons, to a place that needs inspirational people.

Regards from Australia

-- Pieter (zaadz@icisp.net.au), January 28, 2000

Answers

Pieter,

Thanks for your heart warming posts. And, yes, after having the boiler quit on a night when the temperature dropped to -26C, I'm ready for a distant warm horizon. The warmer, the better. It's weird to wake up with frost on your nose.

[Fortunately my preps included spare parts for the system, so I was able to have a warm house by the time the sun peaked over the mountains.]

-- rocky (rknolls@no.spam), January 28, 2000.

No thanks Pieter, with self defense now illegal there, I'll stay where it's safe. When the communist red chinese come knocking at your door, say hello to them for me.

-- Space Cadet (ricki@flight.skool), January 28, 2000.