The government of Australia released a new migration strategy on 11 December 2023, which outlines 8 key actions and over 25 new policy commitments
Let us dive into why, what and when it is going to happen
Why:
The Migration review found 'a lack of clarity on what Australia has been trying to achieve through migration is at the heart of the problems the system faces today'.
Dr Martin Parkinson AC PSM led the Migration Review and noted that the system was so badly broken that it required a 10-year rebuild. It is not delivering for workers, for businesses, or Australians.
Ultimately, the success of the migration system relies on the Backing of the Australian people.
Five objectives to realise this vision
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Objectives
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Plan
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Raising living standards for Australians
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by boosting productivity, meeting skills shortages and supporting exports.
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Ensuring a fair go in the workplace
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by complementing the jobs, wages and conditions of all workers and preventing migrant worker exploitation.
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Building stronger Australian communities
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by better planning the migration intake, and giving migrants the opportunity to invest in their lives in Australia through permanent residence and citizenship
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Strengthening international relationships
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by building stronger economic and social connections with our region and international partners
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Making the system work
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k by being fast, efficient and fair for migrants and employers.
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What:
The eight key actions in the Government's Migration Strategy
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1
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Targeting temporary skilled migration to address skills needs and promote worker mobility
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A new Skills in Demand visa with three targeted pathways
- Specialist Skills Pathway
- Core Skills Pathway
- New visa settings that give migrant workers more mobility in the labour market
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2
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Reshaping permanent skilled migration to drive long-term prosperity
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A commitment to explore a reformed points test for permanent skilled migration, and a new Talent and Innovation visa for migrants who can drive growth in sectors of national importance.
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3
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Strengthening the integrity and quality of international education
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New commitments include:
- Higher English language requirements for international students and graduates
- More scrutiny of high-risk student visa applications and a $19m investment into the Home Affairs student visa integrity unit
- Restrictions on onshore visa hopping that undermine system integrity and drive 'permanent temporariness'
- Strengthened and simplified Temporary Graduate visa settings
- Measures to support international students and graduates to realise their potential.
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4
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Tackling worker exploitation and the misuse of the visa system
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A new public register of employer sponsors to improve integrity and support migrant worker mobility.
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5
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Planning migration to get the right skills in the right places
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A new approach to planning permanent migration over the long-term and greater state and territory collaboration on net overseas migration forecasts.
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6
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Tailoring regional visas and the Working Holiday Maker Program to support regional Australia and its workers
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A new direction to ensure regional visas receive the highest priority visa processing.
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7
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Deepening our people-to-people ties in the Indo-Pacific
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A new approach to developing people-to-people links with our region, including through a direct pathway to citizenship for New Zealanders and increased mobility with Pacific Island and Southeast Asian countries.
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8
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Simplifying the migration system to improve the experience for migrants and employers
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The removal of 20+ unnecessary and duplicative visas to simplify the visa system
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When:
Here is the complete action plan: Action Plan (230KB PDF)
Read the full plan in the Government's Migration Strategy (3MB PDF).
Read a brief overview of this plan in the Government's Migration Strategy At a Glance (320KB PDF).