Migration strategy – Ai Group backs measures to fix 'broken system'

Ai Group strongly supports the Government's draft outline of a new strategy that aims to fix Australia's 'broken migration system' outlined by the Minister for Home Affairs Clare O'Neil, Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association, Ai Group, said today.

"Changes to our approach to migration have the strong potential to improve Australia's living standards, economic security and productivity," Mr Willox said.

"Migration is far from the only area that can assist in accelerating Australia’s economic and social development and, critically, it must be supported by renewed emphasis on improving our approaches to training and education of the current and future domestic workforce.

"In this context, Ai Group strongly supports the initiative announced by the Minister to give Jobs and Skills Australia a formal role to assist in better integrating Australia's training and education systems with our approach to migration.

"The Minister is engaged in a thorough and considered process of consultation with stakeholders and policy experts that is providing a very firm foundation as the Federal Government develops its Migration Strategy.

"The directions raised by the Minister: improving how we prioritise in our approach to temporary and permanent migration; reducing the cost and administrative barriers facing potential immigrants and employers; and elevating the emphasis on the post-arrival experience of migrants, including in relation to housing, have the potential to deliver substantial improvements to Australia's migration program and to deliver greater benefits for the economy and the broader community.

"On the specific commitments made today by the Minister, Ai Group:

• strongly supports the commitment to ensure all temporary skilled migrants have pathways to permanent residency;
• acknowledges the case behind the increase in the temporary skilled migration income threshold (TSMIT) to $70,000, although it may create some difficulties. We support this increase which restores the real value of the TSMIT to its previous level in real terms; and, finally, 
• welcomes a more financially feasible way for small business to access the migration program, although the overall cost remains prohibitive for many. 

"Industry hopes the welcome work being done by the Government, including a significant amount of consultation with business, unions and other interested groups, will lead to a migration system that ensures Australia brings in the migrants we need in a smoother system to help meet our broader economic and industry-specific labour and skilling needs," Mr Willox said.  

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