Australia has suggested a revamp of its immigration system to accelerate the process of bringing highly skilled workers to the country and simplify the route to obtaining permanent residency, without using any copied content.
Proposed changes
The Australian Labor government has announced its plan to modify the existing system by identifying individuals with the specific skill sets that the country’s economy requires.
At present, the selection of suitable candidates is done through a points test, which will be revised to include those who can benefit the Australian economy more effectively.
This proposal aims to enhance the process of selecting skilled workers who can contribute to Australia’s economy.
Issues with current system
According to Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil, the current migration system in Australia is malfunctioning and causing adverse effects.
It is not only failing businesses and migrants but also the people of Australia.
The country faces strong competition from other nations such as Canada and Germany in attracting skilled migrants, especially with the increasing demand for a skilled workforce due to an aging population.
Therefore, it is imperative to revamp the immigration system to address these issues and sustain the Australian economy.
Taking steps to keep highly skilled intl students
The Australian government has announced that it plans to expedite and simplify the visa application process for high-skilled professionals.
Additionally, they will be taking measures to retain international students.
The government recognizes the importance of attracting and retaining skilled workers and students for the country’s economy.
These proposed changes aim to provide greater ease and convenience for prospective and existing migrants, thereby enhancing the diversity and productivity of the Australian workforce.
By the end of this year, temporary skilled visa holders who were previously unable to apply for permanent residency will have the chance to do so.
However, according to O’Neil, this will not increase Australia’s yearly count of permanent migrants.
Raising cap of permanent migrants
Australia increased its intake of permanent migrants to 195,000 this fiscal year in September.
This was an increase of 35,000 to aid businesses struggling with severe staff shortages.
Additionally, the country committed to dedicating more resources and funds to accelerate visa processing.
Raising wage threshold
Starting July 1, the government plans to raise the migrant wage threshold for temporary skilled workers from A$53,900, which has remained constant since 2013, to A$70,000 ($46,250).
According to the government, roughly 90% of all full-time jobs in Australia are currently paying more than the existing threshold, which has resulted in the exploitation of migrant workers.
