Why is it so difficult for a British Citizen to enter and live in Australia?

Question

I have a brother in the UK that is a citizen and a plumber by trade and cannot just fly over and look for a job in Australia.

Seeing that we are part of the Common Wealth it should be a matter of moving countries.

Answer 1

Well the freedom of movement went out the window once the UK decided to join the European Economic Community and changed the immigration laws, which in turn forced all the other Commonwealth countries change their laws. Before 1971, you could turn up at just about any Commonwealth nation and reside there. How old is your brother? If he is under 31, he qualifies for a working holiday visa which entitles him to work within Australia for 6 months out of the 12 months the visa is valid for and may extend this visa to 12 out of 24 months. After he finds a job in Australia, he can just get his employer to sponsor him for a work permit and he can permanently live in Australia.

Answer 2

Sorry, but Australians also cannot just move to the UK. The British population is much much larger than Australia's, we simply can't let them all turn up here, the population is pretty much at the maximum our water resources can support.

53 countries are members of the Commonwealth, surely you would not just want everybody from India for example to automatically be allowed to move to the UK/Australia

I believe as a plumber your brother may be eligible for skilled immigration, but I'm not sure.

Answer 3

Well if its hard for Brits to move and work here you guys are doing are pretty good of job of getting in. You're bloody everywhere!!!!!