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TOUGHER TO SETTLE IN SYDNEY

MAJOR changes to the migration regulations mean that it is now harder for potential migrants to settle in the Sydney area, plus the major New South Wales cities of Newcastle, Woollongong and Gosford.
This restriction applies to people applying to emigrate under the Skilled Australian Sponsored visa, where their sponsor lives in an area defined as "Sydney and Selected Areas."
The Department of Immigration will only process their application if they wish to settle in the above areas and have a nominated occupation on a separate occupations list, known as the Sydney and Selected Areas Skilled Shortage List (SSASSL).
If they cannot comply with this requirement then the application will be considered to be invalid and will be returned to you without being processed.
This situation as been brought about because the Premier of New South Wales, Bob Carr considers that Sydney, especially, is at bursting point and does not need any more migrants, whether or not they are skilled.
The problem has been made worse by the fact that Sydney is the destination for a large percentage of people who emigrate to Australia each year.
Most of them have family or friends in the area but others have no ties and go to the city in the chance of finding suitable work. The problem is further compounded by the fact that many Australians also wish to settle in Sydney, even though it has the highest real estate prices and rents in Australia.