*All positions are available for State Sponsored (491/190) or Employer Sponsored (482/186/187) visas
The Australia China Business Council is imploring Labor to keep its “golden ticket” significant investor visa program after the home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, suggested it could be ousted.
The council has weighed into the migration review, reigniting a fiery debate between business and unions about the number of migrants and raising the pay floor for temporary skilled migrants.
The Business Chamber of Australia has warned that a rise in the minimum wage should be rolled out gradually, while the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry wants to cap it at $60,000.
In the lead-up to the jobs and skills summit, unions called for a pay floor of $91,000 to cut down on use of temporary labour. In return for more investment in training, they cautiously agreed to an increase in permanent migration.
In September 2022, O’Neil hinted that the Significant Investor Visa could be ousted because it “isn’t adding value to the country.”
The Australia China Business Council (ACBC) in its submission defended the significant investor visa as an important measure to “drive innovation and contribute to Australia’s economic growth by attracting investors who seek permanent residency” which it said contributes “significantly to employment in the economy”.
The ACBC suggests that a $5 million investment could generate $250,000 to $350,000 in taxable income each year, with many investors investing more than $5 million and capital remaining in Australia “as part of generational wealth strategies.”
Investor visas have been a boon for industry, business, and the economy in general. China has led the way in investing in Australian businesses and creating jobs in the country, bringing in big dollars while they’re at it. Keeping investor visas open to Chinese citizens will only continue to be a lucrative enterprise that benefits everyone involved.
The Skilled Migration to Tasmania program is for persons who want to move to Tasmania and possess the skills that the Tasmanian State Government requires.
The update offers details on the launch of a new portal for skilled migration applicants, called the Migration Tasmania Application Gateway.
Migration Tasmania Application Gateway Launch
The nomination portal will allow candidates to learn about the requirements for a nomination pathway for registration of interest (ROI). The application portal will be launched on December 12, 2022.
The official system and processes for Tasmanian state nominations are currently transferring to the new system. Unfortunately, this means we can't accept any more applications at this time. New applications will be accepted after 12 December 2022, when the new gateway system goes live.
If you are thinking of moving to Tasmania and haven’t yet received an invitation to apply for Tasmanian State Nomination, then it is important that you register in the Gateway when it goes live.
If you registered in the Gateway by December 12, 2022, you will be held for six months after which the highest-ranking candidates according to the priority attributes claimed will be invited to submit a nomination application.
How will the Migration Tasmania Application Gateway affect your interim ROI?
The migration Tasmania application gateway update will affect new applications in different ways as follows.
- If you have already submitted an interim ROI and have been invited to apply for nomination:
If you have already submitted an interim Registration of Interest and have been invited to apply, you will not be impacted by this decision. You can continue to lodge your application up until Friday 9 December 2022.
- Applicants who have already submitted an interim ROI and have not been invited to apply for nomination:
The Application Gateway will open on 12 December 2022. If you still want to be nominated for a skilled visa by Tasmania, you will need to record a new ROI. If you submit your ROI through the Gateway during the six-month period following its launch, it will be stored in the system until the nomination process begins.
- Applicants who have not submitted an interim ROI:
Currently, officials aren't accepting new ROI (Return on Investment) submissions until 12 December 2022. Once the Application Gateway is launched on 12 December 2022, you'll be able to submit an ROI through it.
The Final Nomination Allocation For Tasmania
Tasmania has been allocated the final skilled visa nomination places for the 2022-23 program year and we look forward to a successful implementation. An additional allocation of 900 places has also been approved for the subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional category.
Tasmania’s final allocation consists of the following:
- 2000 places for Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa
- 2250 places for Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visa
Nomination Allocation and Usage
Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190)
- Nominations – 784 out of 2k places used
- Unfinalized nomination applications – 184
- Invitations sent but not yet accepted – 12
Lodging date for oldest application to be processed – 13/10/2022
Skilled Work Regional Visa (subclass 491)
- Nominations – 480 of 2.25k places used
- Unfinalized nomination applications – 103
- Invitations sent but not yet accepted – 8
Lodging date for oldest application to be processed – 3/10/2022
Tasmania's excellent lifestyle, employment prospects, accessible housing, respected schools and internationally renowned university attract skilled migrants.
The Migration Tasmania Application Gateway for Skilled Migration 2023 will open its doors to skilled migrants on the afternoon of 12 December. After registering their interest in migrating to Tasmania, applicants can begin applying for permanent residency.
If you need more information about Skilled Migration in Tasmania or Migration Tasmania Application Gateway, then contact our sister company Australia Migration Services for a consultation.
As the Australian job market bounces back from the effects of the pandemic, employers are looking beyond our shores for talent.
According to recent statistics, Australia is facing a growing skills deficit. According to a survey by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, more than 70% of businesses plan to hire international talent on a permanent basis in 2022; over 60% plan to recruit on contracts.
There are many benefits to hiring international employees, but the most important is that they provide a pipeline of talent that has no borders. This assertion is also true, however, for the competition to attract them.
Australia is a good place to find employment. Now, the global talent crunch has prompted 40% of employers to raise starting salaries and offer other incentives in order to attract and retain workers.
With such fierce competition, it’s essential that Australian businesses start to plan now to get the most out of their hiring plans.
3 reasons why hiring international employees is a smart move
In spite of the added expense, hiring from abroad is worth it. Businesses with international teams are more successful than those that stick to local recruitment.
- You can fill a role in the workplace where domestic skills are lacking.
Recent research indicates that there is an increasing demand for international talent in the Australian market to offset rising skills shortages. This is especially true in the tech space, where 84 percent of CIOs say they are likely to hire international talent to relocate and work within Australia.
Hiring employees from other countries provides access to unique skillsets that may be hard to find locally. For example, the industry for artificial intelligence solutions is more well-established in the United States than in Australia. Having access to such a pool of talent allows companies to compete on a global level and tap into experience and resources that may be limited at home.
If you are looking to source talent overseas, reach out to a professional recruitment company like AABD.
- Increased diversity leads to greater new ideas and increased productivity.
Diversity in perspective, not just knowledge base, is a crucial element of international employee success. McKinsey’s research has found that workplaces that focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)—in culture and in gender—are more likely to have above-average profitability. Similarly, they’re also much more likely to outperform competition.
Fresh perspectives bring new ideas, new ways of looking at problems, and novel solutions. They can bring insight into workplace customs, which can be gleaned only from lived experience. The cross-cultural experience brings businesses up to the global standard—yet another key benefit of hiring international employees.
- Expand your business into the global market by drawing on locally-specific knowledge.
By hiring international employees and bringing the company up to global standards, companies are more likely to succeed in the local market.
But fluency in a second language is not the only thing that provides advantages. It's also an innate understanding of local customs and practises, what customers want and expect, business laws and regulations—and the ability to easily integrate into the target market. This can allow you access to certain markets where a foreigner would not have the trust required to do business.
Hiring international employees can give your company a competitive edge. These three benefits of hiring international employees can give your company the competitive edge you need to outperform your competition.
In addition to being good for business in a practical sense, employee engagement is excellent for workplace culture and reputation, which can reduce employee turnover, increase productivity and efficiency, encourage creativity and lead workers to develop new products and services.
If you’re looking to hire from a global pool of talent, work with AABD. We have a network of recruitment specialists to help you find the right person for the job.
If you are experiencing problems recruiting local labour or need to fill your skills needs with overseas workers, the following tools may help.
Working Holiday Maker Programme
The Working Holiday Maker Programme provides holiday-makers with an opportunity to finance their travels by working in short-term jobs. There are two visa options: Work and Holiday (Subclass 462) and Working Holiday (Subclass 417).
Visa holders are able to work in Australia for up to six months with each employer. Working holiday makers who work in tourism and hospitality in northern Australia will be eligible to receive a six month extension on their work visas at the end of their first six months employment, enabling them to work for the same employer for 12 months.
Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (TSS)
The TSS visa was introduced in March 2018 as a replacement for the 457 visa. The TSS visa allows businesses to sponsor skilled workers from overseas if they can't find suitable Australian workers. There are two main streams of the TSS visa:
- The Short-Term stream is reserved for employers seeking to source temporary overseas workers from occupations on the Short-Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) for a maximum of two years (or four years if an international trade obligation applies).
- The Medium-Term stream allows employers to hire overseas workers in occupations on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) for up to four years. This visa category can be extended for a further three years, during which time the employee may apply for permanent residency. Employers in regional areas can nominate additional occupations for this stream.
Global Talent Scheme
The government announced a new program on March 19, 2018. The Global Talent Scheme will be piloted for 12 months from July 1, 2018. This new visa will provide businesses, including Australian startups, with a way to sponsor highly-skilled and specialised workers not covered by the standard Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482).
If you’re looking to hire from a global pool of talent, work with AABD. We have a network of recruitment specialists to help you find the right person for the job.
The Australian government has announced its planning levels for the 2022-2023 Migration Program, which will consist of 160,000 places. Of these, two-thirds will be allocated to the Skills Stream, and one-third will be allocated to the Family Stream.
The Migration Program was designed to help Australia deal with its critical workforce shortages by supporting the country's economic recovery from COVID-19 and reuniting Australians with their family members.
As a result, foreign nationals will find it easier to enter the country for work, residency and a path to citizenship.
The situation
The Australian Government has announced that the planning levels for its Migration Program will be 160,000 places in 2022-2023.
Skills Visa Stream
The Skills Visa stream is intended to help the Australian economy by filling labor shortages and improving skills in the workforce. It consists of allocations for employer-sponsored skilled workers, skilled independent workers, regional visas that allow areas to nominate people they need, state/territory nominations, business innovation visas and investment visas.
Allocation
The government has allocated 109,900 places to the Skills Stream, a larger number than in 2021-2022.
Increased places.
This year, the number of regional work visas has doubled from 2021-22 levels to incentivize foreign nationals to settle outside major capitals in Australia. The number of state and territory nominated categories have been increased significantly to allow jurisdictions the flexibility to respond to their unique labor needs.
Emphasis on skilled independent visas.
To address the post-pandemic skills shortage in Australia, the government has introduced a new visa category that allows foreign nationals to obtain permanent residence without employer sponsorship if they meet a set of criteria (allocated based on age, English language skills, education and employment history).
Family Visa Stream
The Family Visa Stream allows family members to reunite with their loved ones in Australia, and provides them with pathways to citizenship. Allocations are granted for partners, parents, children, and other family members.
Allocation
The Australian government has allocated 50,000 places to the Family Stream of its immigration program, reflecting a strong commitment to reunite families.
Demand-driven partner visas.
Australia has decided that it will grant more partner visas on a demand-driven basis and will no longer be subject to a ceiling. It will also allow Australia to grow its population and enhance social cohesion outcomes.
Impact
Foreign nationals will discover that they have a greater number of opportunities to work, live and be granted citizenship in the country.
Background
Migration Program.
A Migration Program is determined each year after consultation with state and territory governments and representatives of various industries.
Skills shortage.
To address the post-pandemic skills shortage in Australia, the government has increased the number of places in the Skills Stream and provided new permanent residence pathways and extended visa validities.
In 2022-2023, the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs will be able to adjust the composition of the Skill stream if changing economic conditions merit it.
What does this mean to Employers?
Recent changes to the regulation have made it possible for employers in Australia to find a solution for their staff shortage.
Are you looking to hire an overseas candidate or have you found an overseas candidate that might be a good fit for you?
Our parent company, Australia Migration Services, is experienced in all visa-related matters and has processed numerous employer-sponsored visas for candidates and employers alike.
To best help you, we advise you to speak with one of our MARA registered consultants. They will provide a clear and step-by-step explanation of pathways for sponsoring your ideal candidate.
If you have queries relating to the above, or need urgent assistance, please call us on 03 9092 1688 or email us at info@aabd.com.com.au.
The Fair Work Commission has announced that workers on the minimum wage will receive a 5.2% pay rise from July 1.
The Fair Work Commission's decision means that roughly 184,000 people on the minimum wage will have their hourly wages lifted from $20.33 to $21.38 - the equivalent of an extra $40 per week. Furthermore, 2.6 million workers on modern award minimum wages will receive a 4.6% rise.
From July 1, new minimum wages will be introduced across Australia. However, not all industries will receive their pay rise on that date. Aviation, hospitality and tourism workers will have to wait until October for their increase after the Fair Work Commission deemed that "exceptional circumstances" related to the economic impact of the pandemic on those sectors warranted a delay.
The Fair Work Ombudsman's website provides a variety of examples showing how the increases will work in practice. The site also lists the Awards for industries that won't increase until 1 October 2022.
From July 2022, employers will have to contribute superannuation to their employees' super funds regardless of how much the employees are paid. Employers must still satisfy other super guarantee eligibility requirements.
It is a good idea to review and update your employment agreements to reflect the fact that the superannuation guarantee rate will increase to 10.5% from 1 July 2022.
Our parent company, Australia Migration Services, is a migration firm that specializes in all visa-related matters. It has processed numerous employer-sponsored visas for candidates and employers to reach a common ground.
We advice you to speak to one of our MARA registered migration consultants who will provide you with a clear, step-by-step analogy of pathways to sponsor your ideal candidate.
If you have queries relating to the above, or need urgent assistance, please call us on 03 9092 1688 or email us at info@aabd.com.com.au.
More skilled people and skilled work visas will be able to move to Townsville following the signing of the Townsville Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA).
The DAMA agreement for the Townsville region will allow local businesses to offer sponsorship for skilled work visas.
The list includes 195 occupations from many different sectors.
- manufacturing,
- health care and social assistance,
- transport, and
- professional, scientific and technical services
Townsville Enterprise is the Designated Area Representative for the DAMA. Townsville Enterprise will administer the process of accessing the Townsville DAMA. The Townsville DAMA is open to any businesses which operate in any of the following Local Government Areas (LGAs):
- City of Townsville,
- Hinchinbrook Shire,
- Charters Towers Regional Council,
- Burdekin Shire,
- City of Mount Isa,
- Shire of Cloncurry,
- Shire of McKinlay,
- Shire of Richmond and
- Shire of Flinders.
From 1 July 2022, local businesses can apply to the DAMA individually to access the programme, which will allow them to start the process for nominating Australian employees for Australian skilled work sponsorship visas.
Our parent company, Australia Migration Services, is a well-established migration firm that handles all visa/migration related matters and has processed numerous employer-sponsored visas, helping both candidates and employers reach a common ground.
For the past decade, we have helped numerous employers sponsor skilled candidates and still continue to do so amid the COVID pandemic.
If you are wanting to seek more information on how to sponsor a candidate, speak to one of our MARA registered migration consultants.
As Australia's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic continues on, they are also looking to ramp up immigration as part of their economic recovery plan. Here is a round-up of some major immigration changes that have been announced recently.
Migration to Australia has dropped significantly since the beginning of COVID-19. This is caused by widespread travel bans and border closures, but it's expected to rise again in 2022.
The Treasury's mid-year economic update shows that while net overseas migration is expected to be around minus 41,000 people in 2021-22, it is projected to climb up 180,000 people in 2022-23 (almost double the previous estimate).
Australia's yearly migration program runs from July 1 to June 30 each year. The 2024-25 forecast is set at 235,000 people, even though it still remains a lower number than the previous year.
Which visa holders can currently enter Australia?
Australia's borders reopened to eligible international students and certain skilled visa holders on 15 December 2021 - almost six months earlier than forecast in the federal budget.
Australian citizens and permanent residents can also enter Australia, and their immediate family members can apply for an exemption to enter.
Permanent residency for skilled migrants in health and hospitality
In November 2021, the government announced significant visa changes to retain highly skilled migrants in critical sectors. Under the changes, certain migrants who have chosen to stay and work in Australia during the pandemic will be eligible for permanent residency. The changes may benefit existing Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) visa holders in the short-term stream, who were previously restricted to a two-year stay without such a pathway. There were about 20,000 visa holders who may benefit from the changes.
What does this mean for Employers?
With this opportunity, employers can now find a solution to their staff shortage.
Are you looking to hire an overseas candidate or have you found an overseas candidate that might be a good fit for you?
Individuals with compelling or compassionate reasons may apply for a waiver of the restrictions, but applications for exemptions will be considered on a per-case basis. Compelling or compassionate reasons can include essential work travel. Through our visa team's help, AABD has been successful in submitting requests to sponsor candidates who enable businesses and people to continue their operations which are critical to the economy, and therefore recovery of Australia.
If you are looking to hire skilled healthcare workers or any other professional workers, we can assist you.
Our parent company, Australia Migration Services, is a migration firm that specializes in all visa-related matters. It has processed numerous employer-sponsored visas for candidates and employers to reach a common ground.
We advice you to speak to one of our MARA registered migration consultants who will provide you with a clear, step-by-step analogy of pathways to sponsor your ideal candidate.
If you have queries relating to the above, or need urgent assistance, please call us on 03 9092 1688 or email us at info@aabd.com.com.au.
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03 9092 1688 (Melbourne)
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info@aabd.com.au