Skilled migration is a hot topic at the moment, particularly since Victoria, the ACT and the NT have announced their Skilled Migration Program nomination allocations for 2022-23 in the last few days. These announcements came amid reports that the Australian Government was considering increasing its migration cap in 2022-23. However, data from the Department of…
Read MoreConsensus on migration and increasing subsidies for apprentices could pave way for policy reform at government’s jobs and skills summit Unions and employers have agreed Australia should lift its migration intake by 40,000 annually to help fill skills shortages and demanded a boost to apprentice subsidies. The consensus suggests the Albanese government could secure broad…
Read MoreAustralia’s skilled migrant worker intake is set to grow by 40,000 people each year as the federal government attempts to combat the ongoing national labour shortage. The migration intake will be lifted to nearly 200,000 people a year from its current rate of 160,000 after two years of COVID-19 border closures led to a national…
Read MoreOpening its migration program for 2022-23 on Thursday, the Victorian government invited both onshore and offshore applicants from all skilled occupations listed under the Department of Home Affairs (DoHA) to submit their interest for the Subclass 190 skilled nominated visa stream and the Subclass 491 skilled work regional (provisional) visa. HIGHLIGHTS The Victorian government said…
Read MoreLast week, independent MP Andrew Wilkie reintroduced to federal parliament the Ending Indefinite and Arbitrary Immigration Detention Bill 2022. This bill gives Australia the chance to bring its immigration detention regime in line with basic international law requirements for the first time since 1992. Wilkie’s bill presents a timely opportunity for the new federal government…
Read MorePerth is in the grip of a skills shortage, with businesses urging the government to act now. Key points: The Committee for Perth is made up of key WA businesses and institutions It has released a three-year plan to boost worker numbers in WA One of 14 recommendations is a reduction in visa processing times…
Read MoreThe skills shortage in Australia has led to a surge in Temporary Skilled visa grants WHENEVER THERE ARE major skills shortages in Australia, we see increased use of the Temporary Employer Sponsored visa in particular — the former subclass 457 and now subclass 482. The number of such visa holders in Australia, both the primary…
Read MoreClearing a backlog of visa applications is an urgent priority for the new Federal Government, and a direction has been issued for more staff to be deployed to process applications. Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Minister Andrew Giles issued the direction, with officers previously focused on travel exemptions already redirected to visa processing. A surge…
Read MoreTreasurer Jim Chalmers says a proposal to temporarily double skilled migration places to 200,000 to address critical labour shortages is a reasonable one, as the federal government plans a jobs summit to find common ground in the private sector. Key points: Treasurer Jim Chalmers says he is in talks with business about a temporary lift…
Read MoreSkilled migrant workers waiting two years or more for their visa applications to be processed have “lost hope” they will be assessed before fast-approaching expiry dates. Key points: There was a backlog of more than 16,400 on-hand 887 visa applications as of the end of March this year The Department of Home Affairs is recruiting…
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