About 2023 Immigration Changes

Changes for Immigration Lawyer Sydney

In April of this year, the Australian Government reviewed immigration policies. This seems to be the biggest review since the 1988 Fitzgerald Report. Issues such as temporary immigration, skills lists, immigration backlogs, care shortages and aging technology were looked at. One central concern was whether Australia has become reliant on temporary migrants who are not being offered clear pathways to permanent residency.

Immigration had steadily increased in the 1996–2007 period, with temporary visas remaining uncapped since this time. The number of temporary visas has doubled since 2007. The people holding these visas did not always have a clear path to permanent residency (PR), so they often took several temporary visas in succession before sometimes gaining PR.

The 2023 review considered the temporary visa situation to be harmful if there is no path to PR. Workers can be exploited, especially if they are in lower occupational code employment. This is partially addressed with the increase in the minimum threshold from $53,900 to $70,000.

There is concern that the skilled occupation list is not working as it cannot keep up with the constant changes in the labour market. A more streamlined, less complex system is suggested, looking at migrants with specific in-demand skills, migrants with broad, socially useful education, and those who fall into the ‘exceptional case’ criteria.

Australia has one of the most complex visa systems, with over 100 types of visas and other tailored labour agreements. There is a huge backlog of applications, partially due to older computer systems.

Concerns include the reduction of one pathway putting more pressure on other pathways. If there are fewer international student places then more people will try to immigrate on a sham spousal application. There is also concern that the reduction of international student visas or holiday visas will affect institutions and employers who rely on these workers.

Of course, an influx of migrants will need suitable accommodation, which is presently in short supply in this country.

Immigration Lawyer Sydney

There are several paths to migration and PR in Australia, but the system is changing. Talk to us about the best legal pathway.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is provided for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. No individual should take, or refrain from taking, any action solely based on the material contained in this article. While we aim to offer accurate and timely information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy on the date of receipt or in the future. If you require more information or seek relevant legal advice specific to your circumstances, please contact our office.