Refugees face tough new test to get into Australia

Should cut down the problematical inflow from Africa. Refugees already in Australia will apparently be tested too and be denied permanent residence if they fail

REFUGEES and some migrants will have to pass an "integration test" before being allowed to live in Australia, under tough new rules to be introduced by the Howard Government. The new gateway test will assess their ability to adapt to the Australian way of life and factors such as their resourcefulness and ability to cope with the challenges of resettlement. It will examine whether prospective migrant families are cohesive, supportive, and united in their desire to settle in Australia.

Immigration officials will conduct face-to-face tests with up to 13,000 refugees and humanitarian program migrants, as well as some skilled migrant applicants, to assess whether they have what it takes to fit in to the Australian way of life. Applicants will also be tested on their English and their preparedness to learn English once they arrive in Australia.

The new test was forshadowed in a speech by Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews last night. The test will operate in addition to the Government's new citizenship and language tests, and a values statement for long-term visa holders. Outlining the plan in a speech to the Sydney Institute, Mr Andrews said migrants and refugees had to be willing and able to integrate. "We cannot assume that the capacity of all of our potential migrants to integrate successfully is the same as their predecessors'," Mr Andrews said. "The Government has decided to put greater emphasis on the capacity of potential migrants to integrate into our community," he said.

Specific questions to be put to prospective migrants will be devised over coming weeks. Training of immigration officials will start shortly, and the Government hopes the new test will be in place by February.

The hard-line immigration plan has the potential to affect refugees from countries such as war-torn Sudan, many of whom have experienced major adjustment problems. Under the plan, Immigration Department officials will have the final say on whether applicants have the capacity to integrate into Australian society. "Because of the importance of migration to Australia, the Government believes it is important that migration continues to be the success story it has been until now," Mr Andrews said. "The migration regulations already make provision for assessing the capacity of visa applicants to settle in Australia. "I have decided that greater emphasis should be placed on this criterion in assessing applications for permanent visas or (for) provisional visas which lead to permanent residence."

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Major government hospital turns elderly away

STAFF at one of Queensland's biggest hospitals are being told to reject sick, elderly people transferring from nursing homes, and hastily discharge all other patients. In a further sign the health system is getting worse rather than improving, Princess Alexandra Hospital's emergency department has been likened to a M*A*S*H scene and its chief said the bed situation was "critical". PA senior clinical chief executive officer David Theile warned staff last week the emergency department backlog was putting lives at high risk. "Along with patient risk there is inordinate pressure on staff in some areas," Dr Theile told staff in an email. "Please maximise and expedite discharges, exercise heightened discernment about accepting transfers or admissions from nursing homes and seek to shift elective admissions to day-only where possible."

A day earlier, a report found almost 144,000 Queenslanders were waiting to see a specialist. Some patients' files were marked "never" to see a specialist. Other recent health problems have included a dire shortage of radiographers, with cancer victims forced to wait long times for treatment; and diagnostic equipment being shut down.

One PA source yesterday said the hospital's situation was so dire that the radiography unit was last week converted into a makeshift emergency room; describing the situation as "like a scene from M*A*S*H". While Dr Theile could not be contacted yesterday, a PA spokeswoman said his emails were to ensure staff were aware of the situation and worked together to resolve the issues.

Coalition health spokesman John-Paul Langbroek said the situation in Queensland hospital emergency departments was now desperate. Some patients might not be getting optimal care if doctors and nurses were being forced to discharge them faster than normal. The Coalition yesterday sought a federal investigation into "never to be seen" patients, claiming the practice might be in breach of the Australian Health Care Agreement.

Health Minister Stephen Robertson said Mr Langbroek should be asking about the shortfall in federal funding. "Had the Commonwealth kept pace with the states' funding we would have had another $2.6 billion over five years to spend on health," he said.

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Crackdown on politics in NSW schools

EDUCATION chiefs fear thousands of school children are in danger of having their minds poisoned by "political" activity in the classroom. The Daily Telegraph has learned that principals have received a strong warning not to allow their schools to be infiltrated by controversial political issues. A written memorandum issued by a senior education officer tells primary and secondary school heads: "Schools are not places for recruiting into partisan groups."

The memo sent by Hunter/Central Coast regional director John Mather says "issues" for schools had arisen during the state election in March. Referring to the federal poll due later this year, Mr Mather warned principals: "Schools are neutral grounds for rational discourse and objective study. They are not arenas for opposing political views or ideologies. "Discussion of controversial issues is acceptable only when it clearly serves the educative purpose and is consistent with curriculum objectives. "Such discussion is not intended to advance the interest of any group, political or otherwise."

The reminder to principals follows accusations in November last year that schools allowed children as young as five to distribute "political propaganda" against the Howard Government's controversial WorkChoices laws. Parents were outraged and one school principal was "counselled" by the Department of Education for breaching guidelines on political material.

As the latest warning was sent out to principals, bemused parents yesterday criticised a bizarre turf war between the state and federal governments over access to schools. Federal Education Minister Julie Bishop was refused permission by NSW Education Minister John Della Bosca to meet up to 71 principals on the Central Coast. Ms Bishop said yesterday it was the first time anywhere in Australia she had not been allowed to see public school heads. "This was a petty attitude . . . we (the Commonwealth) provide $1 billion a year to NSW public schools," she said. "I think the state Education Minister was frightened of what I might learn (from the principals)."

Opposition education spokesman Andrew Stoner claimed the Iemma Government had been caught "peddling politics in the playground". But Mr Della Bosca's office said Ms Bishop had given just 24 hours' notice of the meeting planned for the first day of the new school term. A request to visit Berkeley Vale Public School to make an announcement about chaplains had been approved, a spokesman said. "Neither Ms Bishop, nor any other Federal Minister for that matter, has been banned from visiting public schools or meeting principals. "Ms Bishop should know better than organising a forum for 71 principals on the first day back at school during school hours. Principals should be looking after their schools and supporting their teachers and students during school hours," the spokesman said.

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Lying Queensland cops

One of three Brisbane police officers charged with lying to conceal an attack on a woman in a watchhouse cell faces 14 years in jail after pleading guilty to perjury. Constable Justin Anthony Burkett, 34, pleaded guilty attacking an alleged shoplifter and later lying in testimony during a magistrate's court hearing and a Crime and Misconduct Commission hearing over the incident in April 2004. Fellow officer Constable Nicole Helen Castley, 29, who lives with Burkett at Mt Cotton, had charges against her dropped by prosecutors.

While colleague Senior Constable Craig Stuart Ablitt, 50, of Munruben, pleaded not guilty for allegedly turning off a video camera as Burkett assaulted alleged shoplifter Dulcie Elizabeth Birt.

Yesterday was expected to be the first day of a five day committal hearing, until prosecutor Mark Whitbread revealed no witnesses would be required after discussions with lawyers for each of the three accused offenders. Barrister Paul Brown, for Ablitt, was said his client consented to having the matter committed for trial in the Beenleigh District Court When asked by magistrate Basil Gribbin if he wanted to enter a plea to charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice and perjury, Ablitt replied: ``Not guilty.''

Mr Burkett was the next of the trio called by Mr Gribbin if he wished to enter a plea to Barrister Steve Zillman, for Burkett, said his client was prepared to four counts of perjury, two of perverting the course of justice and one of assault causing bodily harm. ``Guilty, your honour,'' Burkett replied in a loud, clear voice.

Under existing Queensland laws perjury carries a maximum penalty of 14 years' jail. In reading out the charges, Mr Gribbin revealed Burkett allegedly assaulted Ms Birt at Loganholme on April 5, 2004, and that the attack was recorded on videotape. Burkett also gave false evidence at Ms Birt's subsequent summary trail in the Beenleigh Magistrate's Court on December 3, 2004, that she kicked him in the shin, that he never assaulted her or tape recorded the attack. He also sent emails to two fellow police officers, including Ablitt, asking them to falsify their evidence at the hearing.

Despite his guilty plea, Burkett was granted bail and remanded for sentence in the Beenleigh District Court on a date to be fixed. When Mr Gribbin asked what was to be done with Constable Castley's charges, Mr Whitbread rose and said the Crown was offering no evidence and that the charges should be dismissed. Castley had been charged with two counts of perjury for allegedly giving false testimony during Ms Birt's court case and then to CMC hearings in 2005. Castley wept as both she and Burkett were escorted from the courthouse by family and friends and bundled into a waiting car. Ablitt showed little emotion as he left separate to his colleagues

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