"The Federal Government's new migration strategy announced today should make positive contributions by improving the integrity of and confidence in Australia's migration program and by helping employers source the increasingly scarce skills they need in a tight labour market," Innes Willox Chief Executive of the national employer association Ai Group said today.
"Better planning for migration targets, improved processing, support for the regions, an emphasis on attracting specialist skills and improved identification of skills in demand are all welcome changes that will help the system to better respond to the needs of our modern economy.
"Careful monitoring will be necessary to ensure that the much higher Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold of $70,000, and its indexing, will not serve as too much of a barrier to entry. Similarly, the $135,000 minimum salary for access to streamlined specialist skills pathway visas is at the high end of expectations.
"These settings should be reviewed regularly to understand their impact and the Government should be open to adjusting such target levels as necessary.
"The move towards multi-year planning for permanent migration numbers is welcome. This should be accompanied by a recommitment to maintain the target of at least two-thirds of that program being comprised of skilled migrants.
"Strengthening the requirements for international education providers and raising English language standards will benefit the educational experience for both international students and the Australian students they study alongside.
"Many of the future commitments in the migration strategy are accompanied by plans for tripartite consultation involving business, unions and government, which is welcome. However, we have seen in recent years union consultation on visa applications becoming effectively union vetoes of certain applications for skilled visas or labour agreements. For example, in the face of union opposition it is extremely difficult to get visas approved for truck drivers who are desperately needed across the country. The Government should not be outsourcing visa approvals or indirectly supporting protectionist, anti-competitive behaviour from the unions.
"The cost of accessing skilled workers from overseas can reach tens of thousands of dollars for each employee. We look forward to discussing with the Government how those costs can be reduced particularly if a worker on a temporary skilled visa transfers to a new employer sponsor.
"We thank Ministers Clare O'Neil and Andrew Giles and their department and offices for the close consultation with Ai Group over many months in the development of this strategy.
"Employers understand that to have a successful migration program requires community support. Hopefully, the changes announced today will help the community to understand and appreciate the value the immigration program delivers through its greater emphasis on the skills we need and the focus on the integrity of the system and realistic targets," Mr Willox said.
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