每週話題
不只是簽證 更要有生活上的支持
不只是簽證 更要有生活上的支持
Support must come with the immigration visa
周偉文
新的491及494移民簽證政策,值得我們深思。移民到一個國家並不是個人權利,相反接納甚麼人來澳洲定居是澳洲社會的選擇,由政府按不同時期社會的需要來決定。
不少華人把移民澳洲看成為一個交易。不少人想:「我來澳洲讀書得到學位,就可在移民計劃中,取得多少分數。在滿足了現時申請簽證所指定分數要求,就應該被接納成為移民。要是我條件不夠,我可以透過增強自己,例如修讀專業年,或是考取社區語言翻譯,又或是考取較高的英語水平,令自己比別人取得更高分數,就應該被接納成為移民。」今次澳洲政府訂出偏遠地區的新簽證項目,大幅減少傳統的技術移民簽證,再一次提醒了盼望移民澳洲者一個原則,就是澳洲社會有權選擇,要接納那一類別國的人,成為澳洲人。
澳洲的開發確實需要更多的人口,但集中在大城巿的移民,卻無法幫助澳洲社會的發展。鄉下地區無法有大規模的發展,是因為沒有很多人願意住在工作、教育、醫療、生活較少選擇的社區。其實鄉下的生活並不落後,只是與大城巿的熱鬧生活不盡相同。但現時澳洲移民政策,吸引的是來自亞洲大都會的商家或技術專才,而這些人很少會主動適應鄉村的簡單生活。
新的簽證要求一定數量的移民,至少要生活在鄉下一段時間,為偏遠地方的經濟發展,提供了新的機遇。在很多人覺得移民條件愈來愈高的情況下,為那些願意主動試留在鄉下的人,提供了一個較為容易的移民途徑,無疑是一個務實的做法。
不過要住慣大城巿的新移民,能適應在鄉下的生活,最終留下來,政府要提供更多的支援。少數族裔要融入一個小社區,要面對很多困難,政府要明白他們的需要,例如使他們能更容易的與當地社區建立關係,及使用他們的語言,提供幫助及把來自同一文化的新移民,組成互相支持的群體,都是一些方法。
設立合理的簽證是第一步,能否成功還要看政府是否有更長遠及有效的政策,協助新來的人,在鄉下生根,建立理想的生活。
The new categories 491 and 494 Australian immigration visas need deeper thinking. Immigration is not a personal right, but rather it is the nation’s decision on who should come in depending on the prevailing social situation.
Some Chinese immigrants take it as a deal, thinking a degree study program will lead them down to immigration through the point system. So some would try to take on more academic, vocational or language courses in order to fulfil the immigration requirements. Now the Australian government has put up new application criteria in favour of remote area settlement instead of traditional criteria based on technical/professional skills. The reminder is the choice would be based on the country’s preference.
Development of this country must be supported by a higher population, but not just with the major cities. Rural areas are lacking behind because people do not want to stay there with limited provision of work, education, medical, lifestyle provisions. Rural life is not all under developed but just a different version from busy city life. Country style of living however would not appeal to immigrants mainly businessmen and professionals coming in from metropolitan cities under the present immigration criteria.
The new condition of the immigration policy is for some new comers to stay in the rural areas for a while thus bringing some vitality with them. Actually, under the usual stringent immigration system this can provide an avenue for those who are prepared to stay far away.
But the government must provide more support to these people who are used to metropolitan life if they are to settle well in the longer term. It is hard for ethnic minority to integrate into a confined community. The government must make them feel comfortable in the community relationship, in their special need of language and culture, in a mutual-support environment.
Introducing a rational system is just the beginning, the government still needs long term policies to assist the new comers in their settlement.
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