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Dear ttbn,

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New overseas migration was 446,000 in 2024, down from 536,000 the previous year. Temporary students were the largest group of new migrants, representing 46.4% of the total.

There were 1,095,298 international student enrolments in Australia in 2024.

The government carried out a complete overhaul of our migration policy and procedures a couple of years ago, including extensive consultation with businesses, unions and other stakeholders in addition to 450 submissions that were received and reviewed as part of the study.

As a result, a new migration strategy was developed in December 2023, outlining a new vision for Australia’s migration system, with a roadmap containing key actions and new policy commitments.

Australia’s labour market continues to experience shortages in key industries, making migration essential to filling these gaps. Here are the main areas :

• Healthcare and Aged Care: With an aging population, Australia has a pressing need for nurses, aged care workers, and allied health professionals.

• Technology: The IT and cybersecurity sectors are booming, creating demand for software engineers, data analysts, and tech specialists.

• Construction and Infrastructure: Major infrastructure projects across Australia require civil engineers, electricians, and other skilled tradespeople.

• Agriculture: Regional migrant visa holders often work in agriculture, addressing labour shortages in farming and food production.

• Education: Teachers, particularly in regional areas, are in demand to fill gaps in primary and secondary education.

A notable shift in Australia’s migration trends is the increasing dominance of countries like Nepal and the Philippines, surpassing traditional sources such as the UK.

Another emerging trend is the declining migration from China, influenced by economic and geopolitical factors. Countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, and Bangladesh are filling this void, and they are likely to emerge as key players in Australia’s migration story.

Also, the government is directing more migrants to regional areas to address labour shortages in rural areas while reducing congestion in major cities.

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" Marine Le Pen has been found guilty of embezzling EU funds."

Yep the youth are moving to the right in France as well and the only way the fascists of the left can think of to hang onto their power was to convict her of trumped up charges. France used to be a democracy.

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Dear mhaze,

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You wrote :

« Marine Le Pen has been found guilty of embezzling EU funds … and the only way the fascists of the left can think of to hang onto their power was to convict her of trumped-up charges »
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That’s fake news, I’m afraid, mhaze.

Marine Le Pen was not convicted on trumped-up charges. They were very real charges that were evidenced in court without the slightest doubt.

The appellate court will probably confirm the conviction in June next year.

That’s the legal position. The political uproar is another matter.

As in the US, many of her followers in France don’t seem to consider that the law should apply to their favourite presidential candidate and scream blue murder, denying any wrongdoing.

She happens to be leading in the current polls.

Here is a brief video explanation of the legal grounds of the conviction, which you might like to watch if you are conversant with the French language :

http://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=Fran%c3%a7ois+Ruffin+commentaire+sur+la+condamnation+de+Marine+Lepen&mid=971D5C5E0DCFA9B89CDB971D5C5E0DCFA9B89CDB&FORM=VIRE

As a matter of fact, one of France’s ex-presidents, Nicolas Sarkozy, is awaiting the verdict of his court case for illegal financing of his 2007 presidential campaign by the notorious Libyan dictator, Mouammar Kadhafi. The prosecution has requested a guilty verdict and seven years imprisonment.

It will be interesting to see the result of that one too. Sarkozy was a member of the conservative UMP (Union for a Popular Movement) party. He was President of France from 2007 to 2012.

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The charges are trumped up in the sense that other French politicians of the 'correct' flavour were also accused/found guilty of these same offences and walked away with nary a slap on the wrists.

The EU is a corrupt organisation and its procedures are followed in the breach. But only pollies of the wrong flavour get prosecuted for what are, in the end, minor offences.

But this is a pattern developing. Romania has also banned its leading right-wing candidates from running. All very legal mind you </sarc>.

In Germany there is a move to outlaw a whole political party which just happens to be of the wrong flavour and running first or second in the polls.

Ireland likewise is moving to ban a new Trump style candidate.

And then there was the famous trumped up charges against Trump which ultimately fell apart on scrutiny although we still have some bozos joyously declaring that Trump is a felon.

Democracy around the world is under threat but because those perpetrating the threats are of the correct flavour, many will advert their eyes.

Christine Lagarde: IMF chief convicted over payout
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38369822
'A French court has found International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde guilty of negligence but did not hand down any punishment.'

>>As French finance minister in 2008, she approved an award of €404m ($429m; £340m) to businessman Bernard Tapie for the disputed sale of a firm.

Ms Lagarde, who always denied wrongdoing, was not present in court, having left Paris for Washington DC.

The IMF board said it retained "full confidence" in her leadership.

She said she would not appeal against the ruling: "There's a point in time when one has to just stop, turn the page and move on and continue to work with those who have put their trust in me."

The French government also confirmed its confidence in Ms Lagarde, who was reappointed to a five-year term at the IMF in February.<<

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Dear mhaze,

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You wrote :

« The charges are trumped up in the sense that other French politicians of the 'correct' flavour were also accused/found guilty of these same offences and walked away with nary a slap on the wrists. »
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No, mhaze, the charges were not trumped up in any sense of the term. But we’ll have to wait for the judgement of the appellate court in June 2026 for this to be confirmed and made perfectly clear.

You’re right in pointing out that “other French politicians … were also accused/found guilty of these same offences”. However, they did not “walk away with nary a slap on the wrists” as you suggest.

All those who have been caught to date have been tried, condemned, and punished. All have lost their jobs and no longer hold political posts or exercise political responsibilities – though their sentences were generally lighter than that inflicted on Marine Le Pen.

The French and other Europeans are fed up with politicians embezzling their taxpayer money, and the case of Marine Le Pen amplifies the problem by its scope, magnitude, and importance over a period of 12 years between 2004 and 2016.

That probably explains the relative severity of her condemnation compared to those that came before her – particularly since she had previously declared she would heavily condemn any politicians guilty of embezzling taxpayer money and ban them for life from holding political positions and exercising political responsibilities.

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