In a move as game-changing as it is overdue, Australia is set to overhaul its migration policies. At the heart of this revamp? A quickened visa process for foreign skilled workers and a freshly-tiered migration system. Spearheaded by the Albanese government, the initiative is part of an extensive migration review aimed at rectifying what the government admits is a “broken system.”
The proposed tiered migration system outlines distinct regulatory conditions for high and low-wage workers. Skilled workers earning above an as-yet-undisclosed salary will benefit from lighter regulations, whereas care sector employees, earning less than $70,000, will come under increased regulation and union oversight. This comes as Australia grapples with an economy-wide labour shortage, compounded by job vacancies that are about 90% higher than pre-pandemic levels.
Speaking of numbers, the salary threshold for the sought-after high-skill visa is expected to hover between $120,000 and $150,000. However, business groups, always the pragmatists, are advocating for a lower threshold of $98,000 to maximise programme accessibility. Unions, on the other hand, argue for a limit that’s as steep as $200,000, fueling the debate over just who should be allowed to benefit from this streamlined process.
But the makeover doesn’t end there. With a backlog of nearly one million unprocessed visas and a concerning rate of talent drain to more visa-friendly countries like Canada, Australia is also considering implementing a service guarantee. This would specify the maximum amount of time—either in days or weeks—that a visa application will take to process. A timely proposal, as waiting times escalated dramatically when borders reopened last year.
Also on the agenda is increased job mobility for temporary migrant workers, allowing for easier switches between employers. This change aims to counteract the limitations of the current system, which binds workers to their sponsoring companies. While this offers a nod to worker freedom, it has ignited concerns among stakeholders about the ease with which skilled migrants could relocate, and the potential for poaching.
The role of unions is another area where change is afoot. Expected to wield significant influence, particularly in regulating low-wage sectors like care work, unions could play a pivotal part in shaping the labour landscape for jobs with salaries under $70,000.
Yet this is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. Parallel to the migration review, an integrity examination of the international education system will also be released, targeting visa abuse and focusing on lifting educational standards for international students. A separate review, led by former Victorian Police Commissioner Christine Nixon, will delve into criminal activities within the migration system.
And let’s not forget, Treasurer Jim Chalmers is poised to release an employment white paper next week, focussed on a quintet of objectives ranging from job security and wage growth to filling skills gaps and broadening employment opportunities.
As Australia prepares to open a new chapter on migration, the question lingers: Will this makeover be the fresh start the country needs, or just another layer of gloss on an intricate, imperfect system? Only time, and perhaps the will of a nation grappling with its identity in a global landscape, will tell.
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