The ANZ Job Advertisements Series research into the Australian employment market has shown a continued acceleration in Australian job advertisements over the past month.

This is further evidence of the mildness of the downturn Australia experienced over the past 18 months and is an indicator of a slow and steady recovery.

I hope that on this occasion, instead of pandering to the demands of trade unions seeking to justify their existence by keeping skilled migration numbers down, DIAC takes a courageous stand and reminds Australia why it elected the Rudd Government.

Sen Evans, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship should make a strategic decision to open up immigration pathways now, so that Australia will have the future skilled workforce it needs as one of the first western economies to recover from the global downturn.