Australia Immigration
Clare O’Neill announced during a press meeting that her department is going to introduce a new system which will reform the current Australia’s migration system.
Most of the changes haven’t been implemented yet but two of the suggested changes have been implemented:
- The temporary skilled migration income threshold (TSMIT) is increasing.
- By the end of 2023, all the temporary skilled workers will have a chance to apply PR by a pathway.
The TSMIT is increasing to AUD 70,000
On July 1, 2023, AUD 70,000 will be the new temporary skilled migration income threshold(TSMIT) from 53,900 AUD.
- All new nominations submitted on or after July 1st 2021 must meet the annual market salary or new TSMIT of 70,000 AUD whichever is higher.
- There won’t be any changes to the application submitted before 1 July 2023.
Minister O’Neill mentioned that raising the TSMIT is important in order to draw the skilled immigrants that Australia needs to guarantee a prosperous and secure future.
She also clarified that Australia checks the skill level of temporary workers by implementing an income threshold.
The issue is that ten years ago the TSMIT was frozen at 53,900 AUD by the previous Australian government. That sum will be less in 2023 than 90% of Australians who work full time.
According to Minister O’Neill the immigration system which favoured temporary migration in increasingly lower paid jobs and fails to provide Australia with the necessary skills to address urgent national challenges.
Expanded pathways to residence
In the following way by the end of 2023, TRT (Temporary Residence Transition) stream of the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) subclass 186 will be modified.
- Employer sponsored ENS visas will be available to all Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) subclass 482 visa holders.
- In their TSS visas applicants must continue to work in the nominated occupation.
- Sponsored visa holders can apply for ENS TRT after their employer sponsors them for 2 years on TSS, but the current requirement is 3 years.
- In order to be eligible for the Employer Nomination Scheme visa TRT stream candidates must fulfil all additional nomination and visa requirements.
- In the interim the limit on the Short Term Stream (TSS) visa applications which can be made onshore have been lifted.
These changes which have been made have been welcomed by the employers and visa applicants, where they will be benefited.
Let’s take a look at the proposed changes
Minister O’Neill stated in her speech given at the National Press club, there are problems with Australia’s immigration system.
She claimed that it is a bureaucratic nightmare, slow and crazily complex, with hundreds of visa categories and subcategories and that is not drawing in the talent that Australia needs. According to the minister, the Australian system is not aligned with values that are needed.
In order to address the problems the proposed system is :
- Prioritising skilled migrants by:
- Introducing three new pathways for temporary skilled migrant
- Changing the point system
- Introducing more proactive approach to attract international students that can contribute.
2. Simplified and streamlined migration system by:
- In order to remove the red tape, adopting a data driven approach in the migration
- Reducing the number of visa categories
3. Changing the policy environments that encourage the exploitation of migrant workers.
4. Improving the communication between the international student system and migration system by:
- Offering quick and simple pathways to international students who have the skills Australia wants.
- Restricting admissions to Australian universities for international students.
5. Restoring Australian values in the country’s migration system”
- Integrity: making sure that exploitation of migrant workers are recognized and actioned
- Fairness: making permanent residency procedures for skilled workers more transparent and offering information to migrants who have less chance of becoming permanent residents.
- Inclusion: improving streamlined skills recognition to help more migrants, which includes secondary applicants entering into the labour market that matches their education and qualifications.
Minister O’Neill expressed her pride in the advancements the Department of Home Affairs has made in reforming the immigration system since the labour party took office a year ago.
A direct pathway to Australian citizenship for New Zealanders residing in Australia will be available starting July 1 2023, the recent announcement of significant progress that has reduced the backlog of over a million visa applications.
To summarise
In order to secure a prosperous and secure future for Australia the government of Australia wishes to reform its immigration system.
The first changes will come in effect from July 1, 2023. On that day TSMIT is increasing to 70,000 AUD then by the end of 2023, all the temporary workers will have a PR pathway.
The remaining changes mentioned by minister O’Neill will focus on making sure AUstralia gets skills that it needs while simplifying and streamlining the migration system and prioritising the three Australian values – integrity, fairness and inclusion.
The goal is a system that aims in the national interest and that of applicants who can contribute to Australia’s development and growth.
