Amidst recent reports that the global financial crisis will have a negative impact on migration to Australia, the Land Down Under expects to welcome high  numbers of new migrants in 2009.

Although Australia’s migrant quota will be to some extent decreased for the forthcoming year, Immigration Minister Chris Evans has stated that cuts will be moderate, and that potential migrants should not be put off the idea of moving to Australia by the credit crunch.

"What business has been very clear about is that you shouldn't overreact," he said.

Prior to the financial crisis, Australian immigration was at an all-time high, with the Rudd government currently admitting 133,500 skilled migrants to the country per annum.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Peter Anderson also voiced his opinion that the economic downturn did not call for drastic migration quota cuts and that such action would invariable drag the Australian economy down at a time when it needed to be stimulated.

"A downturn of 1-2 per cent is not a proper basis for recalibrating a skilled migration program," Anderson said.

"It needs to be looked at in the context of emerging gaps in labour market demand."