The immigration department says rapper Snoop Dogg has been granted a visa to enter Australia for a concert tour after concluding a full character assessment of the entertainer.
The department had earlier expressed concern about Snoop Dogg's criminal record but took into account the fact that he had traveled to Australia three times without incident.
The department said in a statement on Friday it weighed his criminal convictions against his previous behaviour while in Australia, recent conduct, including charity work, and any likely risk to the Australian community when making the decision.
It said the rapper, whose birth name is Cordozar Calvin Broadus Jr, has committed to doing charity work with at-risk youth during his visit to Australia.
Snoop Dogg was refused permission to even apply for a visa to enter Australia in 2007 because of his criminal record, sinking plans for him to co-host the MTV Australia Video Music Awards.
Australian immigration officials last month cleared an October visit, but then demanded more information after a spate of public complaints from Australian victims of crime groups.
"We took into account all relevant factors and, on balance, the department decided to grant the visa," an immigration spokesman said.
Oscar-winning Australian actor Russell Crowe this week wrote a letter to immigration officials to support Snoop Dogg's visa application and 17-day "Smoked Out" tour.
"I submit to you that Snoop Dogg poses no threat to Australia or to any individual in this country," Crowe wrote.
The spokesman said the visa will be canceled if Snoop failed to abide by the law during his visit to Australia and strict behaviour rules to abide by while in the country.
He has also been denied entry to Britain.
Source: Rob Taylor, Bill Tarrant & The Press Association
Monday, September 15, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Snoop Dogg Denied Australian Visa
For yet another time, rapper Snoop Dogg may possibly be denied entry into another country, this time the Long Beach native has the Immigration Department in Australia a little skeptical.
After initially giving Snoop Dogg's provisional approval on his visa, the Immigration Department in Australia decided that they would instead conduct a full character assessment to see if Snoop would be allowed entry into the country.
According to a spokesperson for the Immigration Department, the full character assessment was a result of public concern.
"Mr. Broadus has not been granted a visa, there are further steps required beyond character assessment before a visa is granted. The department has now decided to do a full assessment of the character of Mr. Broadus," a department spokesperson said. "Community complaints have no effect on the grant or otherwise of a visa. Each application is assessed individually on its merits."
Snoop Dogg is awaiting approval from the Australian Immigration Department in order to tour with Ice Cube in October.
In 2007, Snoop Dogg's visa request to enter the United Kingdom was denied by officials because of an incident with Snoop and his entourage that happened the previous year at Heathrow Airport in London.
Source: hiphopdx.com – 28/08/2008, Danielle Harling
After initially giving Snoop Dogg's provisional approval on his visa, the Immigration Department in Australia decided that they would instead conduct a full character assessment to see if Snoop would be allowed entry into the country.
According to a spokesperson for the Immigration Department, the full character assessment was a result of public concern.
"Mr. Broadus has not been granted a visa, there are further steps required beyond character assessment before a visa is granted. The department has now decided to do a full assessment of the character of Mr. Broadus," a department spokesperson said. "Community complaints have no effect on the grant or otherwise of a visa. Each application is assessed individually on its merits."
Snoop Dogg is awaiting approval from the Australian Immigration Department in order to tour with Ice Cube in October.
In 2007, Snoop Dogg's visa request to enter the United Kingdom was denied by officials because of an incident with Snoop and his entourage that happened the previous year at Heathrow Airport in London.
Source: hiphopdx.com – 28/08/2008, Danielle Harling
New Laws to Reduce Australian Migration Challenges
Australia's growing popularity with other national citizens has resulted in the Australian government feeling the need for constant review of existing migration laws, so to stay in touch with current trends and global transitions. At present Australia is actively involved in recruitment drives to obtain skilled workers due to the current major skills shortage in many of Australia’s industries.
The government is attempting to reduce the number of migration cases which are being challenged in court, through constantly reviewing and if in need amending laws so to improve migration processes.
Refusal of a visa application can often lead to lengthy and expensive challenges being made within the Australian legal courts. With this in mind the bill which is awaiting introduction is expected to help clarify the way in which the immigration department, the Migration Review Tribunal (MRT) and the Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT) communicate decisions on Australian visa applications and cancellations.
The bill which will be titled the Migration Amendment Bill 2008 will allow the relevant minister or tribunal greater powers, so that non-compliance on minor technical details can not be used by applicants as a rule in the hope of postponing official decisions.
In addition to the migration amendment bill a further bill entitled 'the Migration Legislation Bill (no.1)' was passed by Australia's lower house, this proposed over 100 changes to Australia's migration laws across four Acts.
Aside from addressing similar issues regarding the communication of different immigration organistations, the greatest change will see the ability of the minister involved with a case to cancel transitional visas based on character grounds.
Source: Global Visas - 04/09/2008 by Simon Wallace
The government is attempting to reduce the number of migration cases which are being challenged in court, through constantly reviewing and if in need amending laws so to improve migration processes.
Refusal of a visa application can often lead to lengthy and expensive challenges being made within the Australian legal courts. With this in mind the bill which is awaiting introduction is expected to help clarify the way in which the immigration department, the Migration Review Tribunal (MRT) and the Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT) communicate decisions on Australian visa applications and cancellations.
The bill which will be titled the Migration Amendment Bill 2008 will allow the relevant minister or tribunal greater powers, so that non-compliance on minor technical details can not be used by applicants as a rule in the hope of postponing official decisions.
In addition to the migration amendment bill a further bill entitled 'the Migration Legislation Bill (no.1)' was passed by Australia's lower house, this proposed over 100 changes to Australia's migration laws across four Acts.
Aside from addressing similar issues regarding the communication of different immigration organistations, the greatest change will see the ability of the minister involved with a case to cancel transitional visas based on character grounds.
Source: Global Visas - 04/09/2008 by Simon Wallace
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Gay & Lesbian Issues - What's Going On?
According to the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, 84 per cent of gay men, lesbians and bisexual Victorians have been discriminated against because of their sexuality. A 2006 study of 5,500 gay men, lesbians, bisexual, transgender and intersex (GLBTI) people in Australia found that nearly 70 per cent of GLBTI people modify their daily activities because of fear of prejudice and discrimination. It is no wonder that this has an impact on the health and wellbeing of gay and lesbian people.
While gay and lesbian people are as diverse as the rest of the population, their shared experience of discrimination creates common health issues. Australian society generally regards heterosexuality as the most acceptable sexual orientation, which means that gay men, lesbians and bisexual people may be marginalized and discriminated against.
Gay men and lesbians in Victoria are denied reproductive rights currently enjoyed by heterosexual couples, including access to:
• Adoption
• Artificial insemination
• Other in vitro fertilization techniques.
While many things have improved for gay and lesbian people over the past 50 years in Australia, there is still constant uncertainty about whether they will receive acceptance from families, friends, colleagues and service providers. The constant pressure of dealing with this uncertainty has an impact on health.
Gay men and lesbians have higher rates of mental health disorders than the rest of the population. They also have higher rates of obesity, smoking and unsafe alcohol and drug use, and are more likely to self-harm. These conditions develop in response to the kind of scenarios listed below:
• ‘Coming out’, only to be rejected by family members and friends
• Being bullied or taunted by schoolmates on a daily basis
• Homophobic jokes or harassment in the workplace
• Being threatened or bashed when out on the street
• Hiding part of yourself in social situations for fear of being rejected or marginalized
• Feeling guilt and shame about one’s own sexuality in the face of negative messages being delivered by the society around you.
Source: http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
While gay and lesbian people are as diverse as the rest of the population, their shared experience of discrimination creates common health issues. Australian society generally regards heterosexuality as the most acceptable sexual orientation, which means that gay men, lesbians and bisexual people may be marginalized and discriminated against.
Gay men and lesbians in Victoria are denied reproductive rights currently enjoyed by heterosexual couples, including access to:
• Adoption
• Artificial insemination
• Other in vitro fertilization techniques.
While many things have improved for gay and lesbian people over the past 50 years in Australia, there is still constant uncertainty about whether they will receive acceptance from families, friends, colleagues and service providers. The constant pressure of dealing with this uncertainty has an impact on health.
Gay men and lesbians have higher rates of mental health disorders than the rest of the population. They also have higher rates of obesity, smoking and unsafe alcohol and drug use, and are more likely to self-harm. These conditions develop in response to the kind of scenarios listed below:
• ‘Coming out’, only to be rejected by family members and friends
• Being bullied or taunted by schoolmates on a daily basis
• Homophobic jokes or harassment in the workplace
• Being threatened or bashed when out on the street
• Hiding part of yourself in social situations for fear of being rejected or marginalized
• Feeling guilt and shame about one’s own sexuality in the face of negative messages being delivered by the society around you.
Source: http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Bechtel Engineering Gets Behind the Twogether Society
Members of Bechtel Engineering will be Showing their Support for the Twogether Society when they line up to run in the 2008 Bridge to Brisbane.
Left to right: Andrew, Stewart, Lucas, Tom, Hayley & Alice.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Move Over Al Gore, Skippy can Save us From Global Warming!
An Aussie scientist claims that eating kangaroos could massively reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Dr George Wilson, of the Australian Wildlife Services, has recently urged Australians to arm the country’s most iconic marsupials, roo roast could soon become a menu staple, and why not? Australia already makes, sells and eats kangaroo sausages, steaks and rissoles. If fact Australia is the only country to eat the animal that is part of the country’s Coat of Arms.
Wilson and Greenpeace claim that Aussies could dramatically reduce their carbon footprint by eating less beef and more of the local wildlife. Removing seven million cattle and 36 million sheep by 2020 and replacing them with 175 million kangaroos could lower national greenhouse gases by three per cent a year, says Dr George Wilson from the University of New South Wales.
Why? It's all because kangaroos don't ‘break wind’. Or, to put it rather more scientifically, whereas cows and sheep release vast quantities of methane through belching and flatulence, kangaroos release virtually none.
The report says cutting beef consumption by 20 per cent (and thus the amount of cattle reared) and substituting it with kangaroo steaks, mince, burgers, ribs and so on would reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions by a staggering 15 megatons by 2020.
It's not as mad as it sounds. On top of their impressive personal hygiene, kangaroos make model livestock. They need less food than sheep or cattle, are better adapted to drought and are far less damaging to the fragile topsoil than their sharply-hooved bovine counterparts.
And they don't taste bad either... With a distinctive gamey flavour, very tender, best brushed with oil and cooked rare to medium rare (to stop it becoming dry and chewy), it looks just like prime roast beef.
Modern Australians are uncharacteristically sentimental about an animal that has become a national icon and which pops up on the country's coat of arms (opposite an emu) and on the country’s coins. They claim it just feels wrong - disrespectful, almost - to be tucking into their national emblem.
The kangaroo industry, meanwhile, is doing its best to toughen them up and overcome their squeamishness and two years ago, amid much fanfare, it launched a five-year "eat roo" campaign. There were specialist recipe books (invaluable if you fancied a seared kangaroo salad, smoked fillet of kangaroo with brioche and pear chutney, or maybe a nice bowl of kangaroo tail soup). There were also new products (kangaroo microwave meals, kangaroo kebabs, kangaroo burgers) and a huge drive in supermarkets. Many now have whole sections dedicated to kangaroo meat - steaks, mince, readymade microwave meals, barbecue packs, kanga-bangers, you name it - nestled between the beef and chicken.
There was even a competition to come up with a new name that wouldn't put diners off their dinner - a sort of equivalent to pork for pig and venison for new deer. Sadly, this not a great success - after 2,700 entries from 41 countries, "australus" was chosen, but was dismissed by restaurateurs as "silly" and "pathetic" and was too similar to a brand of cosmetics (called Australis) to catch on.
It's enough to put a spring in your step - if you can just forget for a moment that you're eating poor Skippy.
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Wilson and Greenpeace claim that Aussies could dramatically reduce their carbon footprint by eating less beef and more of the local wildlife. Removing seven million cattle and 36 million sheep by 2020 and replacing them with 175 million kangaroos could lower national greenhouse gases by three per cent a year, says Dr George Wilson from the University of New South Wales.
Why? It's all because kangaroos don't ‘break wind’. Or, to put it rather more scientifically, whereas cows and sheep release vast quantities of methane through belching and flatulence, kangaroos release virtually none.
The report says cutting beef consumption by 20 per cent (and thus the amount of cattle reared) and substituting it with kangaroo steaks, mince, burgers, ribs and so on would reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions by a staggering 15 megatons by 2020.
It's not as mad as it sounds. On top of their impressive personal hygiene, kangaroos make model livestock. They need less food than sheep or cattle, are better adapted to drought and are far less damaging to the fragile topsoil than their sharply-hooved bovine counterparts.
And they don't taste bad either... With a distinctive gamey flavour, very tender, best brushed with oil and cooked rare to medium rare (to stop it becoming dry and chewy), it looks just like prime roast beef.
Modern Australians are uncharacteristically sentimental about an animal that has become a national icon and which pops up on the country's coat of arms (opposite an emu) and on the country’s coins. They claim it just feels wrong - disrespectful, almost - to be tucking into their national emblem.
The kangaroo industry, meanwhile, is doing its best to toughen them up and overcome their squeamishness and two years ago, amid much fanfare, it launched a five-year "eat roo" campaign. There were specialist recipe books (invaluable if you fancied a seared kangaroo salad, smoked fillet of kangaroo with brioche and pear chutney, or maybe a nice bowl of kangaroo tail soup). There were also new products (kangaroo microwave meals, kangaroo kebabs, kangaroo burgers) and a huge drive in supermarkets. Many now have whole sections dedicated to kangaroo meat - steaks, mince, readymade microwave meals, barbecue packs, kanga-bangers, you name it - nestled between the beef and chicken.
There was even a competition to come up with a new name that wouldn't put diners off their dinner - a sort of equivalent to pork for pig and venison for new deer. Sadly, this not a great success - after 2,700 entries from 41 countries, "australus" was chosen, but was dismissed by restaurateurs as "silly" and "pathetic" and was too similar to a brand of cosmetics (called Australis) to catch on.
It's enough to put a spring in your step - if you can just forget for a moment that you're eating poor Skippy.
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Monday, September 1, 2008
Australia Wants USA Workers
Australia is actively marketing the region as a desireable immigration destination for skilled workers from the United States.
There is record unemployment in America's industrial states due to manufacturing plants shutting down or laying off workers. In response, Peter Beattie, former Queensland premier and now Queensland's trade commissioner who is who based in Los Angelas, issued press releases stating that "Queensland wants you!" to various media outlets in the affected states.
Queensland and the rest of Australia has a particular need for skilled workers -- especially in the manufacturing, mining, and engineering sectors. Labor shortages are an acute problem in Australia, prompting immigration authorities to increase its skilled immigration quotas for the current financial year.
Australia's lack of a language barrier and Queensland's focus on family, education, and work rights and the sunny climate makesfor an attractive destination for US workers from the northwest US states.
However, Australia is not only looking to America to fill its skills shortages. The country has a highly successful skilled immigration program that brings skilled workers to Australia from all over the world.
Source: Workpermit.com
There is record unemployment in America's industrial states due to manufacturing plants shutting down or laying off workers. In response, Peter Beattie, former Queensland premier and now Queensland's trade commissioner who is who based in Los Angelas, issued press releases stating that "Queensland wants you!" to various media outlets in the affected states.
Queensland and the rest of Australia has a particular need for skilled workers -- especially in the manufacturing, mining, and engineering sectors. Labor shortages are an acute problem in Australia, prompting immigration authorities to increase its skilled immigration quotas for the current financial year.
Australia's lack of a language barrier and Queensland's focus on family, education, and work rights and the sunny climate makesfor an attractive destination for US workers from the northwest US states.
However, Australia is not only looking to America to fill its skills shortages. The country has a highly successful skilled immigration program that brings skilled workers to Australia from all over the world.
Source: Workpermit.com
Man Drought Down Under
An analysis of new census figures has shown that Australia is suffering from an unprecedented "man drought".
The statistics have revealed that there are almost 100,000 more females than males in Australia. The problem is worse in the coastal cities, where women have moved seeking better jobs and lifestyles, while many men have gone overseas.
Thirty years ago Australia was with flush with men thanks to immigration policies that favoured males. That position has been reversed because thousands of Australian men in their 20s and early 30s have gone overseas either to travel or to work.
Demographer Bernard Salt says the exodus of young men to foreign countries is leaving its mark. "If you go into the United Arab Emirates census you'll find there is around 12,000 Australians living in Dubai, mostly male, mostly in the 25 to 34-year age group.
But the situation outside of the larger towns and cities is very different.
Vast numbers of women have abandoned the countryside seeking better jobs or education in metropolitan areas. They have left behind communities overloaded with younger males. In the town of Glenden in the northern state of Queensland there is one single female for every 23 men.
Source: Phil Mercer - BBC News Sydney.
The statistics have revealed that there are almost 100,000 more females than males in Australia. The problem is worse in the coastal cities, where women have moved seeking better jobs and lifestyles, while many men have gone overseas.
Thirty years ago Australia was with flush with men thanks to immigration policies that favoured males. That position has been reversed because thousands of Australian men in their 20s and early 30s have gone overseas either to travel or to work.
Demographer Bernard Salt says the exodus of young men to foreign countries is leaving its mark. "If you go into the United Arab Emirates census you'll find there is around 12,000 Australians living in Dubai, mostly male, mostly in the 25 to 34-year age group.
But the situation outside of the larger towns and cities is very different.
Vast numbers of women have abandoned the countryside seeking better jobs or education in metropolitan areas. They have left behind communities overloaded with younger males. In the town of Glenden in the northern state of Queensland there is one single female for every 23 men.
Source: Phil Mercer - BBC News Sydney.
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