Australian Immigration News 22nd of June. Employer Sponsored Visa Reforms! 6 mths off relief is here

Summary

In this episode of Australian Immigration News, KL Conrad discusses recent policy changes for employer-sponsored visa holders, including provisions for flexible work post-resignation. The show also addresses the Gratton Institute's proposal to scrap the Regional Skill Visa and the government's counter-proposal to triple regional migration places. Expert Professor Peter McDonald critiques the reliance on net overseas migration figures and the potential negative impacts of capping student visas on Australia's international education market.

Takeaways

• 📢 The Australian immigration department has announced a concession for employer-sponsored visa holders, including the 457, 482, and 494 visas, allowing them to work in any occupation or business in Australia for up to one year after resigning or being dismissed from their sponsoring employers.
• 🗓️ The new rules for employer-sponsored visa holders will begin on the 1st of July, and more information will be provided as it becomes available.
• 🎓 The Gratton Institute's proposal to scrap the Regional Skill Visa and implement a new points test plan has been met with resistance, as the immigration department releases a discussion paper supporting strong and sustainable regional migration settings.
• 📚 The discussion paper 'Supporting Strong and Sustainable Regions' is open for public feedback until the 26th of July, with a focus on tripling the number of permanent places available for regional migration and simplifying migration agreements.
• 🔍 The paper also emphasizes the prioritization of regional visa processing and collaboration with states and territories for long-term migration planning to meet regional workforce needs.
• 🏛️ Professor Peter McDonald, a leading expert in demography, challenges the accuracy of the net overseas migration (NOM) figure and its use in shaping migration policy and capping student visa numbers.
• 💡 Professor McDonald argues that the 'permanently temporary' myth is unfounded, as most temporary migrants do not remain in Australia permanently, contrary to popular belief.
• 📉 The ABS statistics for net overseas migration are criticized for being preliminary and potentially misleading, with a significant discrepancy observed in the most recent year's figures.
• 🚫 There is concern that focusing on reducing the NOM could lead to caps on student visas, which may negatively impact the education industry and international relations.
• 🌐 The potential for diversifying the student market is discussed, with the argument that having a large number of students from one country, such as China, is not inherently negative and can be beneficial for international relations.
• 👥 The importance of the permanent migration program for Australia's long-term development is highlighted, as opposed to the temporary migration program, which provides immediate workforce needs.

Q & A

What is the main topic discussed in the Australian immigration news video?

The main topic discussed is the concession for employer sponsored Visa holders, including the 457, 482, and 494 visas, allowing them to work in any occupation or business in Australia for up to one year over the Visa lifetime after resigning or being sacked from their sponsoring employers.

What is the new rule change for employer sponsored Visa holders starting from the 1st of July?

The new rule change allows employer sponsored Visa holders to have 6 months of unrestricted work in any occupation or business between finding a new sponsor, with the possibility of an extension for testing with a new potential sponsor after 6 months.

What does the Gratton institute's proposal suggest regarding the Regional skill Visa?

The Gratton institute's proposal suggests scrapping the Regional skill Visa and introducing a new points test plan, which could potentially decimate Regional Education providers and make Regional Australia self-sufficient in terms of migration.

What is the government's response to the Gratton institute's proposal as indicated in the discussion paper?

The government's response, outlined in a discussion paper titled 'Supporting strong and sustainable regions,' indicates a clear signal against the Gratton institute's proposal, emphasizing the importance of migration in supporting regional Australia and calling for feedback on regional migration settings.

What are the key takeaways from the government's discussion paper on regional migration?

The key takeaways include tripling the number of permanent places available for regional migration, extending and simplifying designated area migration agreements (DAMAs), prioritizing regional visa processing, working with states and territories for long-term migration planning, and expanding the Pacific Australia labor Mobility scheme.

What is Professor Peter McDonald's stance on the term 'permanently temporary' in relation to migration?

Professor Peter McDonald considers the term 'permanently temporary' to be a myth, stating that very few temporary migrants remain in that status after 10 years, and even fewer after 5 years, with the exception of those on graduate visas.

What is the issue with the ABS statistics and net overseas migration (NOM) figures as discussed by Professor McDonald?

The issue with the ABS statistics is that they are preliminary and can be misleading. The ABS uses an equation to predict whether individuals will stay for 16 months from the day they arrive, but this method has been found to be inaccurate, as seen in the significant discrepancy in the figures for the 2022-2023 financial year.

How does Professor McDonald view the idea of capping student visas to control the NOM?

Professor McDonald believes that capping student visas is not a sensible approach, as it targets a large and controllable group, but it could lead to difficulties and negatively impact the education market, which has been carefully nurtured over the years.

What is the potential impact of capping student visas on the education industry in Australia?

Capping student visas could have a detrimental impact on the education industry, especially hitting smaller education providers harder than top universities, and potentially enhancing the market for competitors like the United States, which is not cutting student visas.

What is the issue with the 485 Visa age cap as discussed in the video?

The issue with the 485 Visa age cap is that it unfairly affects older graduate and postgraduate students who may see their Visa expire while still completing their courses, and it does not provide transition arrangements for those who planned to move onto a graduate Visa.

What is the proposed solution by Professor McDonald for students on a graduate Visa who have found employment in their field?

Professor McDonald suggests that if a student on a graduate Visa has found employment in their field and their employer is satisfied with their work, they should be allowed to stay, as they are young and working in their occupation, making them ideal migrants.

What is the discussion on the Gratton points test idea and its implications for regional migration?

The Gratton points test idea has been criticized for overemphasizing salary as an indicator of the best migrants, potentially neglecting in-demand occupations with lower salaries, such as nursing and teaching. Professor McDonald does not believe the government will adopt this approach.

What is the concern regarding the focus on NOM and its potential impact on the permanent migration program?

The concern is that an excessive focus on NOM could lead to a reduction in the permanent migration program, which is crucial for Australia's long-term development, rather than addressing the temporary migration program, which provides immediate workforce needs.

What is the legal issue with capping partner visas in the family stream as per the Migration Act?

The Migration Act states that the government should not cap partner visas in the family stream, but they have been doing so by linking the partner intake to half the skilled intake, which has been capped. This is a breach of the law, and there is a suggestion that this issue should be pursued more vigorously.