http://www.gomatilda.com/news/...le.cfm?articleid=614

Australia's Immigration Minister has today announced important changes to the general skilled migration program.

These include:

* Introducing a new Skilled Occupations List.

* Revoking the Critical Skills List, or CSL, which the Minister introduced in December, 2008.

* Introducing the concept of a "State Migration Plan", whereby State and Territory Governments can enter into a written agreement with the Federal Immigration Minister. In so doing skilled occupations that are in demand in a State or Territory can be identified and given greater emphasis.

* Amending processing priorities (again) so that applications from individuals who have been sponsored by a State or Territory Government under a State Migration Plan are second on the priority processing list, behind employer sponsored Employer Nomination Scheme and Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa applications.

* The removal of the Migration Occupations in Demand List (the MODL) for those who have yet to apply for a general skilled visa (save for those who hold a Skilled - Graduate visa, subclass 485, and are yet to apply for a permanent or a provisional skilled visa).

* Ceasing the processing of general skilled visa applications that were lodged before 1st September, 2007 under the old legislative regime, and refunding Visa Application Charges to applicants. It is understood that there are in the order of 20,000 such applicants.

* Reviewing the general skilled migration points test; it is understood that this review will take place in the first half of 2010.

* Introducing changes to the migration legislation later this year that will allow the Minister to limit the number of visas that are granted to any one occupation as needs arise.