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A controversial proposal to change Australian immigration laws is being hotly debated within the government. This is a proposal by the opposition Coalition party to ease work restrictions on tourist and student visas as one way to assist with rebuilding after the massive flooding in Queensland. However, the ruling party is rejecting this idea with claims that it will actually hinder rather then help with rebuilding efforts and at the same time would undermine the integrity of the Australian visa system.

The Australian Minister for Immigration has said that the Government is already in the process of expediting some visa applications for temporary flood workers, and that other changes to the visa system were unnecessary, especially as these involved student and tourist visas intended for non-work purposes.

© Physicians for Human Rights – Israel

A Burmese refugee, currently holding Australian citizenship told the Australian media that he had served in the Karen National Union (KNU) and had killed almost 50 people during his stint there. Saw Moon Sah, who is 44 years old served in KNU from 1984 to 1987 and was an undercover agent for the Burmese Military, before he was deported to Australia and took up Australian citizenship. Saw Moon Sah made these self proclamations of war crimes to the Sydney Morning Herald and also added that he was a Corporal during his time at the KNU. He stated that he took up Australian citizenship after resigning from the KNU in 1998 and coming to Brisbane in a third-country resettlement programme. This is the second disclosure of war crimes by Burmese nationals holding Australian citizenship in a month. The other being Htoo Htoo Han, another Australian citizen who claimed that he was working undercover with the MI6.

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For the first time Australian immigration records will be available online on the site Ancestry.com.au. Information on Australian immigration will be available from the period 1788 to 1923. Records will be obtained from passenger lists, census and other documents bringing together 14.5 million journeys of Australian immigration.
The earliest Australian immigration was not much of a pleasure trip as it is today. They were long and arduous too.
The present chart will include Australian immigration by the ancestors of Nicole Kidman, Bridget and James Callachar, who landed in Sydney in January 1842. Australian immigration by Edson Ledger, great grandfather of Heath Ledger and cricket legend Don Bradman's grandfather in the 19th century are some of the legendary journeys undertaken.