NSW becomes magnet for immigrants-Survey

Australia, 21st January: NSW has become the top destination for new immigrants to Australia despite a decline in the overall immigration levels, reveals a latest Australian survey.

The survey undertaken by Australian immigration department-DIAC(Department of Immigration and Citizenship) states that the figures of the total foreign arrivals for the year 2009-10 show a fall of 11 percent as compared to the past year.

The year 2009-10 shows arrival of 140,610 immigrants moving to Australia.

And out of these immigrants, around 30 percent chose NSW (New South Wales). NSW was followed by Victoria and Queensland which attracted 26 percent and 18 percent immigrants respectively in the year 2009-10. The number of immigrants choosing WA (Western Australia) was 15 percent.

Titled DIAC Settler Arrival survey, it shows the top five source nations for Australia immigration.

While New Zealand emerged as the top source nation for Australia immigration, China and India came at number two and three respectively. New Zealand accounted for a total of 18,119 immigrant arrivals in 2009-10 while China and India contributed 16,644 and 15,626 immigrants to Australia.

UK and South Africa came at number four and five by contributing 15,555 and 7,153 immigrants respectively.

New Zealand provided 13 percent of immigrants in Australia while China and India provided 12 percent and 11 percent immigrants to Australia respectively.

The number of settler arrivals in Australia has now reached the level of 2006-07, the official spokesperson of Australia immigration maintained.

Majority of immigrants in NSW were highly educated professionals from India and China. The survey maintained that around half of the settler arrivals were either professionals or were employed as administrators and managers.

The survey used official figures from passenger departure and arrival cards filled by new immigrant arrivals in Australia.

The Australian government feels its commitment to an immigration program that develops the economy of the nation and is instrumental in meeting the labor needs of the country, reveals an official spokesperson of Australian immigration spokesperson.

However, one federal backbencher has cautioned Julia Gillard, the Australian Prime Minister, to limit the skilled immigration levels in Australia as the nation affected by floods is unable to cope with growing population.