Citing changes in federal government policies and uncertain economic conditions, figures furnished by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Wednesday showed that net overseas migration (NOM) to the country reached 305,900 in the past 12 months leading to end of March 2009, and should slide down by end of the year.

Immigration Minister Chris Evans affirmed that the number of people migrating to Australia, which comprised both permanent migrants and long-term temporary migrants, would drop further by 20 percent by the end FY2010 and thanks to government reforms in immigration policies and shifting economic conditions.

He revealed that the immigration department is anticipating that up to 56,000 would drop out from visa applications to enter Australia and basing on the latest available data, "by the end of 2009-2010, we expect the NOM to have fallen to between 230,000 and 250,000."

Senator Evans noted that the immigration peak seen last year was due to the accelerated growth in temporary immigrants who were seeking a permanent entry pathway to Australia, who mainly included students and skilled workers.

In addressing the country's economic needs, he said that the government has upgraded the skilled occupation list to target and secure "occupations of longer-term economic value and will deliver highly-skilled migrants while breaking the nexus between permanent residency and low-value education courses."

Senator Evans gave assurance though that "the Rudd government was committed to ongoing reform to ensure immigration levels are guided by Australia's needs and not by the desire of prospective migrants to come to Australia."