December 11 2023:
New Migration Strategy Released

The Migration Strategy to overhaul Australia’s migration system, was released by the Australian Government, Monday 11 December. 

There are several significant changes planned.  This will substantially impact visa applicants, employers and sponsors in 2024.

All parties need to understand the new laws planned and when the law changes are likely to happen. 

We will be hosting a Webinar to discuss the New Migration Strategy.

Migration Strategy – At a Glance

The Migration Strategy sets out 5 core objectives to underpin Australia’s migration system.

1. Raising living standards for Australians by boosting productivity, meeting skills shortages and supporting exports.
2. Ensuring a fair go in the workplace by complementing the jobs, wages and conditions of all workers and preventing migrant worker exploitation.
3. Building stronger Australian communities by better planning the migration intake, and giving migrants the opportunity to invest in their lives in Australia through permanent residence and citizenship.
4. Strengthening international relationships by building stronger economic and social connections with our  region and international partners.
5. Making the system work by being fast, efficient and fair  for migrants and employers.

Roadmap 

To realise the new vision and objectives of Australia’s migration system, a roadmap for migration reform has been designed.

The 8 key actions in the Government’s Migration Strategy roadmap have been developed through extensive consultation with business, unions, international education, civil society and many Australians. This draws on the key findings of the Migration Review, and the 483 public submissions it received.

8 key actions

1. Targeting temporary skilled migration to address skills needs and promote worker mobility – Work Visas

A new Skills in Demand visa with three targeted pathways (3 tier system), and visa settings that encourage migrant worker mobility in the labour market.

New commitments include:

A new Specialist Skills Pathway to make it easier for Australia to attract highly skilled workers, for example in the technology or green energy industries

A Core Skills Pathway to meet targeted workforce needs, with a simpler, regularly updated occupation list for the skills Australia needs

New visa settings that give migrant workers more mobility in the labour market to help tackle worker exploitation and drive productivity

Streamlined labour market testing and visa processing.

2. Reshaping permanent skilled migration to drive 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.

3. Strengthening the integrity and quality of international education

4. Tackling worker exploitation and the misuse of the visa system by developing a comprehensive suite of legislation, powers, penalties and policies to combat worker exploitation and restore integrity to the migration system.

A new public register of employer sponsors to improve integrity and support migrant worker mobility.

5. 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.

A new approach to planning permanent migration over the long-term and greater state and territory collaboration on net overseas migration forecasts.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. Simplifying the migration system to 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.

Note: New commitments listed above are  not exhaustive. 

Timetable – Key Dates

Source: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/migration-strategy