The Joint Standing Committee on Migration has released its long-awaited final report, “Migration, Pathway to Nation Building.”

The report has been ongoing for nearly two years and plays a significant role in the administration of employer sponsored migration in Australia and will likely shape the Governments immigration policies moving forward.

The report has developed by building on earlier reviews, and has presented a range of recommendations including:

• Focus on Permanent Residency Pathways: Unlike previous recommendations, this report emphasizes permanent residency pathways for temporary skilled migrants, providing greater certainly for employers and temporary visa holders.
  
• Reducing Complexities & Increasing Processing Times: The report has recommended reducing the complexities of the current immigration framework to streamline key processes and increase faster visa processing.
  
• Visa Holder Worker Protections: There is a strong focus on addressing and reducing sponsored worker exploitation by enhancing mobility within the Australian labour market, allowing sponsored visa holders more flexibility to change employers and introducing further enhancement to the family violence provisions.

Key Recommendations for Employer Sponsored Visa Programs

Introduction of the Skills in Demand Visa (replacing the TSS SC482 visa)

1. Specialist Skills Pathway: Targeted to high-income earners to fast-track the arrival of highly skilled individuals to Australia with applications processed within 7 days.
   
2. Core Skills Pathway: For skilled workers who will be earning above $73,150 with an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL).

• Essential Skills Pathway: A pathway to enable organisations to sponsor lower-income workers, working in essential sectors of the economy who are facing critical skill shortages..

Removing Current Labour Market Testing Requirements

Phasing out the current Labour Market Testing requirements in favour of a data-driven approach based on information from Jobs and Skills Australia.

Addressing Regional Migration Pathways

For employers in regional areas, the report emphasizes tailored migration strategies such as reassessing the definitions of regional Australia and increased incentives to regional settlement and recommending improvements to the Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs) and labour agreements to address critical skill gaps in regional industries.

Information Transparency &Simplifying Visa Processes

The report has recommended reducing the complexities in the current visa application system to facilitate faster processing times, streamlined data and biometric collection and ongoing, regular and transparent updates as to visa processing.

When are the changes coming into effect?

The report is part of a broader migration strategy, with reforms expected to begin in November 2024 and will gradually be rolled out and implemented by the Department of Home Affairs.

Further advice & assistance

If you would like personalised advice on how these recommendations may impact you, or your organisation, please contact Ethos Migration Lawyers by making an online enquiry or calling our office on 1300 083 843.