Australian Immigration News 31st of August. New Skills In Demand Visa Update + Student Cap Uproar
Summary
TLDRIn this episode, host KL Conrad discusses the Australian government's decision to cap international student enrollments at 270,000, despite the closure of over 150 'ghost colleges.' Critics argue that international students are being unfairly scapegoated for issues like housing shortages. The episode also covers new 'Skills in Demand' visa legislation, detailing three streams for highly skilled workers, those in occupations with shortages, and lower-paid essential workers. The bill aims to enhance transparency and oversight of sponsor programs.
Takeaways
- 📢 The Australian government is considering a cap on international student numbers at 270,000 for the next year.
- 🏫 The cap is being sold as a measure to tackle exploitation in the education industry, but critics argue that the issue is already being addressed through other reforms.
- 🔍 Over 150 'dormant' or 'ghost' colleges have been shut down, which were not providing education but were used as a backdoor for work opportunities.
- 🤔 The public is skeptical about the need for a cap, as there is little evidence linking international students to issues like the housing crisis.
- 🌳 The Greens leader, Alan Brand, accused the government of using international students as scapegoats for larger economic issues.
- 📉 The National Union of Students president expressed concerns that the cap makes foreign students feel less welcome in Australia.
- 📈 There has been a 160% increase in Indian students coming to Australia, which the government is now trying to manage.
- 📉 The government has been criticized for not honoring promises made to students regarding extended visas after they have paid for their courses.
- 📉 The new 'Skills in Demand' legislation is being discussed in Parliament, which includes new visa streams for highly skilled workers and those in occupations with shortages.
- 🏢 The Specialist stream of the new visa program excludes trade workers, machinery operators, and laborers, focusing instead on high-income earners and specialist knowledge.
- 📋 The new legislation also proposes a public register of approved sponsors to increase transparency and help temporary skilled migrant workers find legitimate employment.
Q & A
What is the proposed cap on the number of international students starting courses in Australia next year?
-The proposed cap is set at 270,000 international students starting courses in Australia next year.
Why does the education minister argue for the need for a cap on international students?
-The education minister argues that the cap is necessary to weed out 'shunks' or those exploiting the industry to make a quick profit.
What is the government's response to the exploitation of the international student industry?
-The government has responded by shutting down over 150 dormant or ghost colleges that were not providing education but were used as a backdoor for people to work in Australia.
How does the public perceive the government's decision to set an international student cap?
-The public may not fully understand the reasoning behind the cap and may remember only the headlines suggesting the need to control the number of international students.
What does the Greens leader, Alan Brand, think about the use of international students as scapegoats?
-Alan Brand believes that international students are being used as scapegoats when the political establishment avoids confronting big corporations.
What is the National Union of Students' president's opinion on the government's plan to cap overseas University enrollments?
-The president struggles to believe that the cap is driven by concerns over migration or the housing crisis, as there is little evidence to support these claims.
What was the increase in the number of students coming to Australia from India in the last year?
-There was a 160% jump in the number of students coming to Australia from India in the last year.
What is the new skills in demand Visa legislation that is before the Parliament?
-The new skills in demand Visa legislation outlines new Visa streams such as the Specialist stream, the Core Skills stream, and the Essential Workers stream.
What is the Specialist stream in the new skills in demand Visa legislation?
-The Specialist stream is for highly skilled workers earning over $135,000 and is intended to attract migrants who bring significant economic benefits to Australia.
How does the Core Skills stream differ from the Specialist stream in the new legislation?
-The Core Skills stream is for workers in an occupation shortage earning over $73,500, and it is designed to attract skilled migrants to work in occupations identified as being in national shortage.
What is the purpose of the public register of approved sponsors mentioned in the bill?
-The public register of approved sponsors is intended to encourage transparency, monitoring, and oversight, and to help temporary skilled migrant workers find a new sponsor and verify the legitimacy of a sponsoring employer.
Outlines
📚 International Student Cap and Visa Legislation
The video discusses the Australian government's decision to cap the number of international students at 270,000, starting next year. The Education Minister justifies the cap by citing the need to combat 'shunks' or those exploiting the education industry for profit. The video argues that the cap is unnecessary as the government is already addressing the issue by shutting down over 150 'ghost colleges.' It highlights the public's general disinterest in immigration laws and focuses on headlines, which in this case, simplifies the issue to 'weeding out the shunks.' The Greens leader, Alan Brand, and the National Union of Students president express skepticism about the government's motives, suggesting that international students are being scapegoated for issues like housing crises, which they argue are not caused by students but by a lack of housing supply. The video also criticizes the Minister for his previous policies that led to a surge in international students and for the government's broken promises regarding graduate visas.
🔍 New Skills in Demand Visa Streams
The video outlines the new 'Skills in Demand' visa legislation currently before the Australian Parliament. The legislation introduces three new visa streams: The Specialist stream for highly skilled workers earning over $135,000, excluding trade workers; the Core Skills stream for workers in occupations facing a national shortage and earning over $73,500; and the Essential Workers stream, focusing on lower-paid workers with essential skills in the care and support economy. The Specialist stream aims to attract migrants with significant economic benefits, such as filling specific labor market needs or providing niche technologies. The Core Skills stream is designed to attract skilled migrants to work in occupations identified as being in national shortage. The video also mentions the upcoming changes to labor market testing and the establishment of a public register of approved sponsors to increase transparency and oversight.
🌐 Updates on Immigration Policies and Visa Processing
The final paragraph covers updates on immigration policies, including changes to the labor market testing required for the Core Skills stream, with the validity period increasing from 4 to 6 months. It discusses transitional arrangements for sponsors with approved nominations or pending applications to ensure they are not disadvantaged by new thresholds. The video also speculates on potential future benefits such as one year of work experience for the 482 Visa instead of the current two, faster processing times, a fairer payment schedule for the Skilling Australia Fund, and the possibility of time spent with any approved sponsor counting towards the 2-year TRT stream requirements. The presenter emphasizes the importance of staying informed and offers assistance for those needing help with the complex immigration processes.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Student Visa Cap
💡Ghost Colleges
💡Scapegoating
💡Migration
💡Housing Crisis
💡Skills in Demand
💡Essential Workers
💡Labor Market Testing
💡Public Register of Approved Sponsors
💡Core Skills Stream
💡Specialist Stream
Highlights
The Australian government is considering a cap on international student visas at 270,000 for the next year.
The cap is justified by the need to control 'shunks' or those exploiting the education industry for profit.
Over 150 'dormant' or 'ghost' colleges have been shut down as part of reforms to tackle exploitation.
Critics argue that the cap is unnecessary as the government is already addressing the issues.
The public often overlooks the details of immigration laws, focusing more on headlines.
International students are being used as scapegoats for larger societal issues.
The Greens leader, Alan Brand, criticizes the government for targeting migrants instead of corporations.
The National Union of Students president questions the rationale behind the student visa cap.
There is skepticism about the government's claim that the cap will address the housing crisis.
The Minister for Education, Jason CLA, is held responsible for the surge in international students.
The government's promise to honor graduate visas for students whose courses were listed has been broken.
The Minister's integrity is questioned regarding the implementation of the student visa cap.
The new 'Skills in Demand' legislation is expected to be passed, outlining new visa streams for workers.
The Specialist stream is for highly skilled workers earning over $135,000, excluding trade workers.
The Core Skills stream is aimed at occupations in national shortage, with an income threshold of at least $73,500.
The Essential Skills pathway focuses on lower-paid workers with essential skills, particularly in care and support.
A public register of approved sponsors is to be established to increase transparency.
Labor market testing validity for the Core Skills stream will increase to 6 months.
Transitional arrangements will be in place for sponsors with approved nominations prior to the bill's commencement.
Future bills are expected to include changes such as reduced work experience requirements and faster processing times.
Transcripts
in tonight's episode we take a look at
the new skills in demand Visa
legislation soon to be passed by the
House of Representatives and the
government has now committed to a
student visa cap amongst a total wave of
complaints I'm KL Conrad and welcome
grab a cppa and sit back and enjoy the
[Music]
show this week the education Minister
came out and announced a cap on the
number of international students
starting courses in Australia Today I
can announce that subject to the bill
passing the overall number of
international students starting a course
next year will be set at 270,000 and to
sell the need for such a cap he began
with the old political magician trick
redirection students are back but so are
the shunks people that are seeking to
exploit this industry to make a quick
buck so do we need a cap to beat the
shun well not really it seems for
they're already on top of the problem
and we're implementing a number of
reforms to tackle that including most
recently the shutting down of more than
150 dormant or ghost colleges places
that aren't really operating to provide
an education for international students
but a really a backdoor just for people
to work here however all the public will
remember is oh we need this cap so we
can weed out the shunks as most of you
know by now the Australian public pays
little attention to immigration laws or
policies they just want the headlines so
what is shutting down dodgy colleges got
to do with setting an international
student cap absolutely nothing how did
we get to this crazy point of talking
about caps and limiting International
students well that's because
International students are the
scapegoats here the greens leader Alan
brand made this quite clear in his
speech to the National Press Club on
Wednesday
every time that people start doing it
tough but the political establishment
doesn't turn around and take on the big
corporations they look for scapegoats
right they look for scapegoats and what
labor and liberal are doing now are
saying we're going to attack migrants
not the big corporations that are price
gouging you we're going to attack
migrants right and like even to the
point where labor is now saying
universities somehow have to get into
the business of housing like linking
migrant and housing and international
students with a housing crisis right
this this is this is um a a race to the
bottom migrant bashing debate that the
greens are not going to participate in
in the lead up to the election of course
we are not the only ones openly
questioning the rationale for setting a
student visa cap this was also voiced by
the national Union of students president
on Wednesday's news breakfast show the
reaction is coming in thick and fast
this morning to the government's plan to
cap overseas University enrollments
foreign students say they now feel less
welcome in the country after education
Minister Jason CLA proposed a limit of
270,000 new overseas enrollments for
next year so it sounds like you don't
really um buy into this argument from
the government that this is a a decision
around sustainability and migration do
do you believe it's driven by something
else yeah I I struggle to believe that
it's driven by you know sort of this
this conversation around migration or
even as were initially saying uh to
reduce the housing crisis the reality is
there is you know little to no evidence
that proves International students are
the cause of the housing crisis it's not
their fault we don't have enough housing
to keep up with you know the amount of
people who live here it's not their
fault uh that rental prices of sword um
so you know it's it's an interesting
Framing and one that I don't quite buy
and don't forget who was responsible for
this unprecedented surge of
international students coming in such an
unusually short period while that lies
directly at Jason cla's feet he's hoping
we will all forget his joint to India to
try and attract more students in the
last year there's been 160% jump in the
number of students coming to Australia
from
India 160% think about that he hopes we
will all forget about the over 3,000
courses listed for the longer 4-year
graduate visas if you come and study
here more importantly he hopes no one
mentions that after students paid big
money to choose one of these listed
courses they were denied the opportunity
to gain those extended visas in July
this year this is despite the government
advertising to prospective students when
this list came out don't worry if your
course comes off the list before you
finish we will honor our promise and you
can still gain the 4-year graduate Visa
you know we got are back whenever you
need us well we all know what a like
that turned out to be when in July this
year just a year after the program began
no one could get those fouryear extended
visas anymore this is the first time we
have witnessed such a lack of Integrity
from a government but Jason CLA still
maintains his position simply amazing
now however he wants your trust that
this department can run the student visa
cap program with integrity and that you
can depend upon what he says come on you
must be joking how far this Minister has
fallen in March last year all the
universities were in love with Jason
Clair to them he was the new Messiah
someone in the government was finally
going to listen to them and design
policies where they could
flourish this is a year for Big Ideas
it's a year for Big
Ideas in education but summer is now
almost over and I want your
ideas this room room is full of smart
and imaginative people but I know you've
got ideas that won't just make your
universities better in this room are the
brains and the ideas that can help us to
reshape and reimagine what our
universities what our higher education
system can be and to set it up for the
next decade and the one after that and
that's what I want from you that's what
I need from you he had them eating out
of his hand little did the UN Unity
leaders who sat around their Gala dining
tables that night realized that all of
their great ideas were going to be
wasted by a government that would just
do as they pleased when it suited them
had they realized what was to come
perhaps the laughter and the Clapping of
the distinguished crowd would have been
replaced by them choking on their
vegetables what's
this I think he's choking oh yeah
he
[Music]
[Music]
air okay folks we have a few specials
tonight the new skills in demand
legislation is before the Parliament and
is expected to be passed soon the
migration Amendment strengthening
sponsorship and nomination processes
Bill 2024 it outlines the new skills in
demand Visa streams The Specialist
stream the core skills stream and the
essential workers stream The Specialist
stream is for highly skilled workers
earning over
$135,000 called The Specialist skills
income threshold the ssit this stream
excludes trade workers Machinery
operators and drivers and laborers and
why is that you say well the explanatory
statement outlines it all this stream
will be available to highly skilled
migrants who bring significant economic
benefits to Australia such as meeting
labor market needs that exist at an
individual firm level and assist
companies in acquiring specialist
knowledge Niche Technologies or research
expertise unavailable in Australia I
guess that's why the tradies have been
excluded much to the Construction
Industries discussed the new core
skilled occupation list will not apply
to this stream the new core skill stream
is for workers in an occupation shortage
earning over
73,5 and of course that figure will go
up every year in the explanatory
statement it reads it is intended that
this streamlined approach to the income
threshold of at least
73,5 will attract skilled migrants to
work in occupations identified by jobs
and skills Australia as being in
National shortage or where Australia has
committed to providing access to the
Australian labor market in relation to
that occupation through international
trade agreements the upcoming core
skills occupation list which we
discussed last week will be the
Benchmark for identifying occupations in
National shortage if you are worried
that your occupation may not be included
on this new list it may be best to Lodge
a new nomination using the current
regulation
any nominations lodged before the new
skills in demand stream start will be
assessed under the old rules and lists
and while speaking of lists it is
important to note that those on the
current short-term occupation list
hoping to Lodge for their 186 permanent
residence visa using the trt stream you
do not need to worry if your occupation
does not make it onto the new list this
is because the trt stream of the 186
Visa does not require the occupation to
be on any list but it does need to be at
least in anco the essential skills
pathway will be for lower paid workers
with essential skills with a focus on
the care and support economy the
government is still working on how all
this will work in practice but we expect
it to be similar to the labor agreement
stream of the current 482 Visa the new
bill also outlines the establishment of
a public register of approved sponsors
in the explanatory statement labeled to
parli it reads by including the name of
the approved sponsor the number of
sponsored workers and their occupations
the register is intended to encourage
transparency monitoring and oversight
the purpose of the public register is to
help temporary skilled migrant workers
find a new sponsor and provide a public
resource so they can check to ensure
that a sponsoring employer is actually
legitimate the bill also outlines the
change to the labor market testing
required for for the core skills stream
the validity of the LMT will increase to
6 months up from the current 4month
requirement the government will put in
place transitional Arrangements which
will apply to sponsors who have an
approved nomination or have applied for
nomination prior to the commencement of
this bill this is to ensure they are not
disadvantaged by the new thresholds the
other expected benefits in future bills
to the parliament but not yet confirmed
but I hope for are the onee of work
experience instead of the current 2
years for the 482 Visa faster processing
times a fairer payment schedule for the
skill Australia fund and time spent with
any approved sponsor to count towards
the 2-year trt stream requirements it's
been another busy week and it takes a
long time to Wade through all the
information out there to try and bring
you the most essential parts and
remember if you need help we are always
here you can book a consultation online
or if you need need one faster just pick
up the phone as always take care out
there and I will see you next time so
bye for now
[Music]
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