The Northern Territory continues to attract permanent migrants, with the number of people settling in the Top End increasing in the 2009-10 period.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s (DIAC) Settler Arrivals 2009-10 publication shows an increase in the number of migrants choosing the NT, from 1079 in 2008-09 to 1196 in 2009-10.

The NT has been most popular with migrants from the Philippines and the United Kingdom, who were recorded as the top two nationalities choosing to start their new lives in the Top End.

On the national front, there were 140 610 settler arrivals in Australia in 2009-10, a decrease of 11 per cent from the previous year. “The numbers of settler arrivals are now near the level they were in 2006-07,” a departmental spokeman said.

The figures show New Zealand and China are now the top two source countries by birth, with India, the United Kingdom and South Africa making up the remaining countries in the top five. A departmental spokesman said the Australian Government was committed to a migration program which was targeted to help expand Australia’s economy and meet critical labour needs.

“The Australian Government has undertaken a series of strategic reforms of the skilled migration program, to make it more responsive to Australia’s labour market demands,” the spokesman said. “These reforms are about selecting the best and brightest people from a large pool of potential migrants.”

The government announced in the 2010-11 Budget a total of 168 700 places for migration, comprising a total skill stream of 113 850 places, a total family stream of 54 550 places and 300 special eligibility places.

“This will increase the proportion of skilled migrants to 67.5 per cent of the migration program to further address Australia’s needs as the economic climate improves while still ensuring places for family migration and reunion,” the spokesman said.

Settler Arrivals 2009-10 is the latest in the annual series of statistical publications that provides information on people arriving in Australia to live permanently. The report is available online at: www.immi.gov.au/media/publications/statistics/index.htm

Source:  Department of Immigration and Citizenship 29 January 2011