457 visas being processed faster: Evans

August 20, 2008

"Earlier this year, I directed the department to clear a backlog of about 13,000 temporary skilled migration visa applications on hand since March, many of which were outside the acceptable standards for processing," Senator Evans said.

"Applications for temporary skilled visas are now being processed faster and more efficiently at three new dedicated Centres of Excellence established in Perth, Sydney and Melbourne to deal with increasing demand by Australian companies for overseas workers to meet skills shortages."

... 110,570 visas were granted to temporary skilled workers and their dependents in 2007-08, up from 87,310 in 2006-07.