I told him you need to have a trade qualification and experience to get such jobs and to have any hope of obtaining a work visa. His literature degree is of no use at all in that case.

WTF was he thinking, lol. I have a lit degree and it is useless for getting into Aus. Does he even know of the points system or that Aus requires engineers, nurses, and tradesmen as you rightly say. It's no longer a case of white and english speaking from UK/Canada=automatic job and good life in Aus. Does he also realize Aus is very expensive (watching a programme where one uk family found their weekly groceries shop would cost more if they moved to Aus!), as a lot of things are imported, and that after 40 banks in the UK will not give him a mortgage in the UK either? Is he married to a chinese as well....?