How much money?
Kelly,
My girlfriend entered the country on a holiday work visa because even thouogh we had been going out for 2 years, we hadn't co-habitated for a continuous 12 months. Immigration were fine with this and were told by the immi officer that it is quite common practice.
Moving on, I think the amounts of money needed to do what you are suggesting are usually alot more than average Joe immigrant has access too. Australia, USA, UK etc all offer residency to celebrity/rich people because the money they bring in the country far exceeds the money they take out. If you are going to start a business employing more than a certain amount of people you can get a visa also. What you are suggesting which I think is paying off a local corrupt politician, would be not only political suicide for the MP but a certain gaol term for you. A Melbourne MP was caught a couple of years ago doing this and he got ten years!
The government just announced it is looking for UNSKILLED workers to immigrate. Australia is turning into an international labour market. The type of people we let immigrate to this country is dependant only on which minority the govt is trying to impress today. The point I'm trying to make is that having money has always been a way into Australia and the labour market as we know it in this country is going to be turned on its head pretty soon.
cheers