Joint Standing Committee on Migration
There is an inquiry into Australia’s skilled migration program. Currently, there are 12 recommendations, and some of them include:
- Streamlining the labour market testing– among them include:
- only require Medium and Large businesses to conduct labour market testing;
- remove the requirement for employers to advertise any occupations which are on the PMSOL or critical skills lists;
- Provide greater transparency from the Department over Federal Governments’ use of funds from the SAF levy.
- Enable TSS visa holders who are working in certain industries to work for multiple employers or multiple roles with the same employer
- A push to include these occupations to the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List:
- Chefs
- Vets
- Café and restaurant managers
- Seafarers
- Civil Engineers
- Electrical Engineers
- Motor Mechanics
- Cooks
- Carpenter
- Electricians
- Other crucial roles in hospitality, health, trade, agriculture and manufacturing industries
- Reviewing the Skilled Occupation Lists, MLTSSL, STSOL, ROL to reflect the impact of COVID-19.
- Improve processing times for employer-sponsored visas and onshore skilled visas and a clearer path to permanent residency.
- BIIP and GTI provide options and clearer pathway for permanent residency.
- Reserve places on flights for skilled migrants.
Related:
Parent Visas changes
From 24 March 2021, applicants for the following parent visas can be either in or out of Australia for the visa grant during the COVID-19 period:
- Parent (Permanent) (subclass 103) visa
- Contributory Parent (Permanent) (subclass 143) visa
- Contributory Parent (Temporary) (subclass 173) visa
- Aged Parent (Permanent) (subclass 804) visa
- Contributory Aged Parent (Permanent) (subclass 864) visa
Related:
Assessing authorities for 186 ENS visa
Migration (Specification of Occupations and Assessing Authorities—Subclass 186 Visa) Amendment Instrument (LIN 21/009) 2021 updates the assessing authorities for certain occupations for 186 visa.
| Occupation | Assessing Authority |
| Chief Executive
|
Institute of Managers and Leaders Limited (IML) |
| Childcare Centre Manager | Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) |
| Podiatrist
|
Podiatry Board of Australia |
Global Talent Sectors
The GTI program target sectors have been updated recently. The new target sectors are:
- Resources
- Agri-food and AgTech
- Energy
- Health industries
- Defence, advanced manufacturing and space
- Circular economy
- Digitech
- Infrastructure and tourism
- Financial services and FinTech
- Education
Related:
Bio-Security Act 2015
Biosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency) (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) (Overseas Travel Ban Emergency Requirements) Amendment (No. 1) Determination 2021 – F2021L00268 was lifted to allow Australian citizens and permanent residents to travel to New Zealand.
At this point, 14 days of mandatory quarantine in NZ is still required. This could change with a travel bubble in the coming weeks.
Travel to Papua New Guinea
There is a serious health risk to the Australian community to travel to PNG due to the COVID-19 outbreak. People seeking to travel to PNG will only be approved in minimal circumstances.
- For critical workers providing assisting to PNG’s COVID-19 response,
- People undertaking critical safety roles.
Ministerial Direction 90
The Ministerial Direction 90 will commence on 15 April 2021. It introduces a new primary consideration when the case officer considers visa refusal and cancellation under section 501. Case officers are required to consider family violence as a very serious offence when deciding on the application.
RPL and TSS 482 visa
Excessive waiting times for parent visas
Northern Territory – Nomination Requirements (2024-2025)
Ending ‘visa hopping’ – 600 and 485 visas to student
35 Years or Under Age Limit for 485 Visa (50 for Masters by research and PhD)
Core Skills Occupations List (CSOL)