Australia's Migration Program in 2024 - Massive Updates!
On 11 December 2023, the Minister for Home Affairs announced that it will be “reforming Australia’s broken immigration system with the biggest reforms to migration in a generation”.
In a sweeping 100-page document that tackles every aspect of the Australian migration system, from revamping the skilled temporary visas to student visas to foreign investment, the government intends to “build a migration system that earns the trust and confidence of our citizens and secures a safe and prosperous future for every Australian” and to “bring migration back to sustainable, normal levels.”
What was broken about the system in the first place?
Dr Martin Parkinson, who had led the review into the migration system, had found that the Morrison government had deliberately chosen to “neglect the system” and that it was now “so badly broke” that it required a “10-year rebuild”.
The main concerns of the Parkinson review with the current migration program are that:
There is clear evidence of systemic exploitation in the system and “the risk of an emerging permanently temporary underclass”, who have no pathway to Australian permanent residence and ultimately citizenship.
The system creates bountiful opportunities for worker exploitation.
It is inadequate in identifying and meeting the skills Australia actually needs both in the present and in the future.
The system is not sufficiently transparent and accountable, thus eroding public trust in the integrity of the program.
The new Migration Strategy intends to solve the issues identified in the Parkinson Review by concentrating on the following five key objectives:
Raising living standards for Australians by boosting productivity, meeting skills shortages and supporting exports.
Ensuring a fair go in the workplace by complementing the jobs, wages and conditions of all workers and preventing migrant worker exploitation.
Building stronger Australian communities by better planning the migration intake, and giving migrants the opportunity to invest in their lives in Australia through permanent residence and citizenship.
Strengthening international relationships by building stronger economic and social connections with our region and international partners.
Making the system work by being fast, efficient and fair for migrants and employers.
Summary of changes to the migration program
The following changes have been announced and we have compiled them in to a pdf for you:
When will these changes come into effect?
There has been little detail regarding when exactly the government plans to be implementing the proposed changes (with the exemption of the LMT changes that have already taken effect). The extent of discussion has been confined to a promise that migration levels will be returning to ‘pre-pandemic levels’ by the next financial year, and that the government will publish discussion papers on permanent skilled migration and regional migration by early 2024.
All other details on the implementation of these changes have been quite vague and has left many wondering how exactly the Albanese government intends to implement their long-term plan within the three-year election cycle.
What had been missed?
Notably, very little comment had been made in the document regarding the humanitarian visas, with the extent of the discussion being a repeat of a statement that the government had already made in August 2023.
“In August 2023, the Government announced that the number of people resettled in Australia’s Humanitarian Program will increase from 17,875 to 20,000 per year.”
No further mention had been made on how the Albanese government intends to address the over 30,000 applications from Afghani refugees that remain in limbo.
Furthermore, no comment had been made to increase the age threshold to apply for the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa or the general skilled migration program from 45 years. This is especially surprising in light of the fact that the current retirement age of Australia is 67 years.
How Can Agape Henry Crux Help
As the legal changes have not been finalised at the time of writing, it is important for all migrants to keep an eye on this shifting landscape. If you are uncertain how this change would affect your migration status, contact us at Agape Henry Crux, our Accredited Specialist Immigration Lawyer(s) and our team of immigration lawyers and migration agents are specialised in handling highly complex matters. You may schedule an appointment with one of our lawyers or agents to seek professional advice by calling 02-8310 5230 or email us at info@ahclawyers.com.
We speak fluent English, Mandarin, Cantonese and Malay. If this isn’t your language, we can also help you arrange an interpreter.
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