LIITA 2008

Australia to tighten entry for overseas students

MELBOURNE, Dec 18 — The days when overseas students can use hairdressing and cookery courses as a ticket to permanent residency in Australia are numbered.

The Australian government has revised its skilled migration programme to focus on medical and key IT professionals, engineers and construction trades.

This could affect tens of thousands of students who use hairdressing, cooking, accountancy and IT to qualify for a permanent visa, the Herald Sun newspaper reports.

Australia's Immigration and Citizenship Minister Chris Evans said yesterday a revised programme for the next six months would fast-track visas for migrants with critically needed skills. People sponsored by employers and state and territory governments would also be favoured.

"This will ensure that our migration programme is more responsive to the needs of the economy, and assists industries still experiencing skills shortages.

"In the current economic climate, it is important that priority is given to those applications where the person has skills in critical need," Evans said.

The immigration intake would remain at a record high of 200,000 this year.

"Employer-sponsored visas will occupy an increasing share of the skilled programme, with 36,000 visas likely in the current year," he added.

Evans said the existing ceiling of 133,500 skilled migrants would remain. — Bernama

Well, well well...it was a matter of time before they start clamping down on migrant intakes . Guess I was fortunate enough to get mine a tad earlier..... or am I? With the economy in doldrums its not too bad staying in a country where necessities are cheap/er!

Property prices expected to fall 5-10pc next year

PROPERTY prices will fall by 5-10 per cent from the first quarter of next year as a slower economy cools demand, a property consultant said.

The slump in prices will be for properties across the board, Association of Valuers & Property Consultants in Private Practice Malaysia (PEPS) president James Wong Kwong Onn said.

He said properties below the RM300,000 radar and luxury condominiums tagged at above RM750,000 are already hit from a slower economy.

Wong believes there will be a correction in the housing market next year.

"There will be fewer launches due to poor demand. Prices will fall, but gradually, due to lack of confidence in the market," Wong said after a media briefing on the 2nd Malaysian Property Summit 2009 in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

But Wong said a housing bubble is unlikely although the market will be depressed by a slew of bearish factors like poor economic data and worries over increasing credit market losses in the US.

He said Malaysia's real estate is resilient enough to withstand the onslaught of the economic turmoil.

His confidence is boosted by the RM7 billion economic stimulus package announced last month.

Wong expects Malaysia's real estate to also fare better than Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong as the latter three are more exposed to the US-led subprime crises.

"Property prices in these countries have also shot up by 100 per cent or more whereas the upward price in Malaysia was gradual. There is room to grow so we will definitely fare better," he added.

Rycher and Melanie's Home Blessing!

So many homes being blessed! This one is a gem of a home! So cosy and contemporary! Its in Desa Park City!

Carol's Birthday Lunch in Shangri-la and KLCC

Another birthday, another year older but what the difference this time? Our birthday celebrations would have to include the kids, or at least one of them! But its all good..y'know.I've come to a point where spending time with the family is the ultimate plan. They are so cute when they are not in a tantrum! Happy birthday Carol..Love you heaps!

Ivan and Grace's Home Blessing

Wow..the house looks really good! The ceiling was high, the lawn was green with soft Japanese grass, the kitchen was huge and the rooms were just as huge! Check it out!

Jamie making Pizza!

Its been a while since my last post. After the Melbourne trip, everything seems to have slowed down and I'm getting lazier by the day. Maybe its Christmas around the corner and most are already on holiday. We planned to spend some time with the kids and so we bought some pizza base and ingredients and just let her make her own pizza. As I photographed Jamie making her own pizza I realised how fast she is growing up! That would be the first meal she is making for me! And it wasn't bad at all! Maybe pizza is just simple to make la...or is she good?