Clearing 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…
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Australia is looking for private companies to handle the biometrics information collection component of its visa process as the number of applications has risen dramatically since the start of this year, according to The Canberra Times. The new process is expected to begin from March 2023. A tender was recently launched in this regard, the…
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Julian Hill backs home affairs minister prioritising overseas skilled applicants, as advocates warn of damage of ‘limbo’ status for refugees The Albanese government must invest in clearing the lengthy visa application backlog, or else home affairs will remain known as the department of “human misery and economic carnage”, Labor MP Julian Hill has said. Hill…
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Premier Mark McGowan is calling on the Commonwealth to ramp up skilled migration as his government launches a new register designed to connect WA companies with overseas talent. There are now more jobs on offer in WA than there are unemployed West Australians and unprecedented labour shortages are crippling growth across industries – as well…
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Treasurer 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…
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Skilled 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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The prime minister said a permanent presence of workers would make a “significant difference” for industries experiencing long-term shortages. Anthony Albanese has addressed the issues of migration and visa backlogs in relation to skills shortages, saying Australia needs to create better pathways for workers to have a permanent presence in the country. The Labor government…
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ACCI CEO Andrew McKellar has urged the government to raise the migrant rate He said a migration rate of 200,000 would help employers hire skilled workers Mr McKellar said Australia’s economy is ‘the worst it’s been in nearly 50 years’ 2022-2023 Migration Program planned for 160,000 migrants, 109,000 workers The federal Government is being urged…
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About 5 per cent of refunds have been processed, leaving thousands of people waiting for months. Working holiday visa holders are appealing to the Australian government to fulfil a promise to refund application fees, with only 5 per cent of applicants reimbursed to date. Former prime minister Scott Morrison promised international arrivals on working holiday,…
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After years of driving down places available in the Skilled Independent category (Subclass 189), the Albanese Government is set to drive up numbers in 2022-23, most likely starting later this month. The Skilled Independent category most characterises Australia as a migrant settler nation. It is a highly discretionary category that governments have used to crank…
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