New Migration Strategy
The government has unveiled a new strategy to reduce migration levelos, amid concerns the current system allows non- genuine students to work and stay in Australia indefinitely while not providing enough pathways for highly skilled workers.
8 key actions in the Government’s Migration Strategy roadmap have been developed for a better managed migration system.
Targeting temporary skilled migration to address skills needs and promote worker mobility
A new Skills in Demand visa with three targeted pathways, and visa settings that encourage migrant worker mobility in the labour market
Reshaping permanent skilled migration todrive long-term prosperity
A commitment to explore a reformed points test for permanent skilled migration, and a new Talent and Innovation visa for migrants who can drive growth in sectors of national importance
Strengthening the integrity and quality of an international education
A package of integrity measures to lift the standards for international students and education providers, while ensuring graduates help meet skills shortages and do not become ‘permanently temporary’.
New commitments include:
• Higher English language requirements for international students and graduates
• More scrutiny of high-risk student visa applications and a $19m investment into the Home Affairs student visa integrity unit
• Restrictions on onshore visa hopping that undermines system integrity and drives ‘permanent temporariness’
• Strengthened and simplified Temporary Graduate visa settings
• Measures to support international students and graduates to realise their potential
Tackling worker exploitation and the misuse of the visa system
A comprehensive suite of legislation, powers, penalties and policies to combat worker exploitation and restore integrity to the migration system.
New commitments include:
• A new public register of employer sponsors to improve integrity and support migrant worker mobility
Planning migration to get the right skills in the right places
A longer-term, evidence-based approach to planning migration that closely collaborates with states and territories and ensures population planning is based on the best available population data and forecasts.
New commitments include:
• A new approach to planning permanent migration over the long-term and greater state and territory collaboration on net overseas migration forecasts
Tailoring regional visas and the Working Holiday Maker Program to support regional Australia and its workers
A new direction to ensure visas for regional Australia are prioritised first, and a commitment to evaluating regional migration settings and the Working Holiday Maker program to ensure migration supports development objectives in regional Australia and does not contribute to worker exploitation.
New commitments include:
• A new direction to ensure regional visas receive the highest priority visa processing
Deepening our people to people ties in the Indo Pacific
A new approach to developing people-to-people links with our region, including through a direct pathway to citizenship for New Zealanders and increased mobility with Pacific Island and Southeast Asian countries
Simplifying the migration systemto improve the experience for migrants and employers
A system-wide simplification agenda that will streamline visa settings, reduce visa classes and make the system easier to use.
New commitments include:
• The removal of 20+ unnecessary and duplicative visas to simplify the visa system
Source:
Migration Strategy- At a Glance
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/programs-subsite/migration-strategy/Documents/migration-strategy-at-a-glance.pdf