India becomes Australia's largest source of permanent migrants

KOLKATA: India has, for the first time, become Australia's largest source of permanent migrants. The Australian High Commissioner to India, Mr Peter Varghese, on Friday, said Indian migrants comprised a total of 29,018 places or 15.7 per cent of the total migration program of 185,000 places under the 2011-12 permanent migration program. 

India has surpassed China and the United Kingdom as the largest source of permanent migrants with 25,509 and 25,274 places respectively. 

Commenting on the figures, the Australian minister for immigration and citizenship, Mr Chris Bowen MP, said that ""the Indian community has made a valuable contribution to economic, social and cultural life in Australia, and I know this will continue with more Indians choosing to make their home here."" 

Seven of the top 10 source countries in Australia's 2011-12 migration program are from Asia: India, China, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea and Vietnam. 

The family stream had a final outcome of 58,604 places, representing 31.7 per cent of the total migration program. 

""The family stream is an essential component of our migration program, as it allows Australians to unite with their loved ones, particularly with their partners and children,"" Mr Bowen said. ""I am pleased that the Government will help even more families to reunite under this program next year, as I increased family places from 58,600 to 60,185 in this year's Budget."" 

Skilled migration accounted for over two-thirds of Australia's total migration program, with a 2011-12 skill stream outcome of 125,755 places.