Permanent migrants with the promise of a job or who possess critically needed skills will be given priority entry into Australia in an overhaul of the program.

Immigration Minister Chris Evans said yesterday there would be no cut to Australia's record high intake of skilled migrants, defying expectations the Government would move to cut the program in response to the global economic crisis.

Instead, Senator Evans has announced a retooling of the way the Immigration Department processes skilled migrants in an effort to make the system more responsive to businesses' needs.

The cap of 133,500 skilled migrants for 2008-09 will remain, although the minister says the option to cut the program will stay on the table.

Under the changes, announced in a ministerial statement yesterday, skilled migrants with a confirmed job will be placed at the top of the processing queue along with migrants with qualifications deemed to be at a critical shortage in Australia.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24816015-2702,00.html