Britons lured to new life in Oz

More skilled workers are needed in Adelaide

Britons weary of life in Blighty are being encouraged to apply for visas to live in regional Australia, where they are needed to boost the population.

As of Thursday, new rules will make it easier for skilled migrants who want to live in various parts of regional Australia to get visas.

The state of South Australia has even appointed a migration specialist to tour Britain promoting the state.

South Australia says it needs more skilled workers to power its economy.

Skills needed

Until now, British people wanting to move to Australia needed 120 points on the country's immigration scale, with points awarded according to skills.

But under the new Skilled Independent Regional (Provisional) scheme, those heading to regional or low-population urban areas will be accepted with 110 points.

Everywhere apart from Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, the New South Wales Central Coast, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Perth, Melbourne and the Australian Capital Territory, is included.

Beautiful landscapes are among the lures of South Australia

Applicants must have sponsorship from the relevant state or territory government.

The successful ones will get a three-year residency visa to live in regional Australia, with an option to apply for permanent residency after two years.

While Australia is densely inhabited around its coasts, in much of the rest of the country young people are moving to cities to work and birth rates are slow.

An Australian High Commission spokeswoman said: "For anybody who is thinking about moving to Australia, who doesn't mind going to a regional area and has skills to offer, this is a brilliant opportunity to go with full support."

The South Australian government is particularly keen to lure newcomers.

There's quite a strong affinity between the two countries despite what we read in the media Agent General Maurice de Rohan

The state is four times the size of the UK, with about 2.5% its population.

Of its 1.5 million residents, 1.1 million live in its capital, Adelaide.

As well as sending a representative to tour the UK, the state's government will sponsor British applicants and help new arrivals by providing accommodation on arrival, a meet and greet service and help in finding jobs and homes.

It needs skilled people to work in the medical and construction sectors, with professionals such as engineers and accountants also likely to be needed in the next few years.

The state's Agent General in Europe, Maurice de Rohan, said: "When people are thinking of migrating, they don't necessarily think South Australia and that is what we want to get them to think."

Britons hope for a relaxed lifestyle in Australia

He said British immigrants fitted in well in Australia.

BBC correspondent Phil Mercer asked some South Australia residents what they thought of the scheme.

One said: "Aussies say all poms are whingers anyway. There's plenty of whining - the sun's too hot, they don't put enough sunscreen on and they get rashes...."

Another said: "Where are they going to live? So long as its not near me it doesn't bother me."

I've heard they have a brilliant lifestyle over there and it's supposed to be a beautiful country. They like the British, there are cheap houses and good wages Construction worker Daniel Flynn

Another woman said: "I've got a lot of English friends and they're great."

In Britain, BBC News Online asked some construction workers for their views on the scheme.

Daniel Flynn, 33, of Brighton, said: "It sounds really good.

"The visas always seem to have been the main problem for people going to work over there.

"I've heard they have a brilliant lifestyle over there and it's supposed to be a beautiful country.

"They like the British, there are cheap houses and good wages, or so I've heard."

Simon Friend, 17, of Southwick, West Sussex, said: "I would be interested in going because its a better standard of living, with better weather than we get here. It would be something different, with new opportunities.

"I think we are needed there, whereas there is a lot of competition for builders over here."