Acting Immigration minister Taci
The acting immigrant minister Taci (Alan Tudge) today defended the new requirement that government applicants who decide on a spouse visa and their permanent resident guarantee in Australia must pass an English test, claiming that the requirement would encourage them to study English harder.
"English is our national language and is essential to finding jobs and fully participating in our democracy and social cohesion ," he said in a statement Thursday. "
"Only 13 per cent of those without English skills are at work, while 62 per cent of those fluent in English are at work. "
Helping to respond to domestic violence and exploitation
He stressed :" We also know that migrants are particularly vulnerable to family violence and other exploitation without adequate English language skills and are unlikely to know how and where to seek help. "
"Over the past decade, the number of people in Australia who speak English poorly or not at all has risen sharply, to 1 million, about half of whom are of working age. "
earlier this year, he said, government announced the lifting of restrictions on immigrants' access to free english courses through the adult immigration english program (AMEP), he said. Immigrants can now pass the time they need to learn to achieve professional English.
government announced new requirements for dual visas as part of this week's budget, requiring applicants for spouse visas and guarantee permanent residents to make appropriate efforts to learn English. Spouse visas account for 90% of family reunification visas for permanent immigrants. Applicants must have English skills.
English will come into effect in the second half of next yea
from the second half of 2021, new spouse visa applicants and permanent resident guarantee will be required to have english proficiency or to certify that they have made appropriate efforts to learn english.
And people will be able to prove it by, for example, completing 500 hours of free English courses through AMEP.
Most spouse visas are temporary visas for two years before they are eligible for permanent visas. This requirement must be met when granting a permanent visa.
"Although speaking multiple languages is a great asset for both individuals and Australia, without basic English, it will be difficult for a person to participate fully in our society and democracy, Tage said. "
these new measures will provide more opportunities for immigrants and new citizen to maximize their opportunities in australia.
More details on these measures will be announced in the coming months.
Functional English
Speaking to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) today, Tucky said that applicants for spouse visas and guarantee permanent residents will be required to achieve functional English (functional level English) or at least make appropriate efforts to learn English.
"For most people, this means about 500 hours of free English lessons.
He also clarified to the Sydney Morning Front and Times that the new measures included in the budget meant that new spouse visa applicants would only have to meet the requirement to speak basic conversational English.
This also means "functional English ", equivalent to" basic conversational English "
He minister made this clarification after Labour denounced the new demand as a return to the White Australia policy.
government also guarantee that spouses from non-English speaking backgrounds will not be prevented from coming to Australia.
Spouses do not need to take English exams when they come to Australia
'People do n' t have to pass an English test before they come to Australia ,' Mr. Morrison said.
The new regulations will affect only those who have changed from temporary visa applications to permanent residence visas.
He told Sydney 2 GB Radio :" For people to be employed, for people to be protected in our society, and for people to have access to services and functions in the community, having a basic level of English is actually very important. "
"You must try to break the language barrier, you must study English hard. "
The new rules will not take effect until at least the middle of next year and will affect only those who apply for permanent residence thereafter.
As the Federal government estimates in its budget programme, this new measure will save at least $5 million over the next four years.
