“Focus is on quality and skills. It is not about bigger population or more people, the new direction will have smaller migration program overtime.”
“Our current migration system is broken and unfair.”
DIRECTIONS PROPOSED:
Overall goal is to end the “ad hoc” and “piecemeal” approach to our migration program and redesign the system to get skills here.
- Restructure temporary skilled migration
- Three (3) new pathways for temporary skilled migrants:
- Fast and simple pathway for highly specialized skills
- Mainstream skilled pathways based on proper evidence of labour skilled shortages.
(Proposed increase income threshold from $53,900 to $70,000 p.a.)
- Essential industry -But will tackle exploitation and “fake students” who are here to work.
- Points test for PR needs to be reformed. Current “bar” is set too low.
- Reduce Bureaucracy
- Simpler visa system and reduce number of visa categories. Will use data to show where skill is required.
- Right Outcome for Migrants in Australia
- Australia needs to better plan for population increase.
- There will be increased flexibility for migrants to move employers and enforce their workplace rights.
- Make sure high performing students can stay in Australia. There will be simpler pathways for international students to become permanent.
- There will be tightening to have only “genuine students”.
- Restore Australian Value
- Strengthen integrity by increasing monitoring to prevent exploitation.
- Stricter governance on migration agents and education agents.
IMMEDIATE CHANGES
- From 1 July 2023: Minimum income threshold increases to $70,000 p.a.
- By end of 2023: Current temporary workers and all skilled workers will have pathway to PR.
SUMMARY
- Migration Program will be simplified and move away from specific occupation list, but have broader skilled list.
- Points test for PR will stay, but “bar” will be lifted.
- Income threshold for skilled migration of $53,900 is outdated. Increase to $70,000 on 1 July 2023.
- Welcome international students, but tightening up and lifting standards to make sure good students are actually here to study.
BUSINESS MIGRATION PROGRAM
No mention was made about the current business and investment visa program in the announcement.
However, during Q & A, the Minister mentioned that Australia has enough capital. The focus is on quality of skilled people. There will be changes to the 188 visa program, focused on quality of skilled entrepreneurs and driver of economic growth, not capital.
