Increasing levels of xenophobia and more refugees seeking to come to Australia are inevitable consequences of the world financial meltdown, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said.

At a media conference where the Immigration Minister, Chris Evans, announced cuts to permanent skilled migration, Antonio Guterres warned against making foreigners a scapegoat when economic conditions deteriorated. "When things go wrong in a country, there are two potential targets. One is the government, the other is the foreigners," he said.

Senator Evans yesterday confirmed speculation Australia would cut its skilled migration intake in the budget in May. "I expect the numbers of our program to drop next year … as a reaction to the economic circumstances," he said.

http://www.smh.com.au/national...s-20090223-8ftr.html