The Migration Institute of Australia (MIA) welcomes the government’s response to the recommendations of the Independent review into the integrity of the subclass 457 programme, announced today by the Assistant Minister for Immigration, Senator  the Hon. Michaelia Cash. 

“The MIA believes that the review is a win- win for all stakeholders, as the government’s response will benefit Australian business; provide safeguards for overseas skilled workers and at the same time, ensure jobs for Australians are protected.  The government’s response is well balanced and the integrity of the subclass 457 programme will be strengthened by these changes,” said MIA National President Angela Chan FMIA.

Many of the recommendations supported by the government were advocated by the MIA in its submission to the Independent Review.  

Ms Chan said that some noteworthy recommendations which have been supported by the government include:

* The Ministerial Advisory Council on Skilled Migration will be reconstituted as a tri-partite advisory council;

* Standard Business Sponsors will be approved for five years and start-up business sponsors for eighteen months;

* more realistic and less onerous English language requirements;

* current training benchmarks replaced with an annual training contribution to a government training fund. Contributions will be based on the number of sponsored subclass 457 employees and the size of the business. The training fund will be used to support a wide range of training initiatives throughout Australia for youth, apprentices/trainees from target groups, including Indigenous Australians and those in rural and regional areas; mentoring programmes and training scholarships that address critical skills gaps in the current Australian workforce such as nursing and the IT sector and training initiatives in areas such as the aged care and disability care sectors;

* rewarding Australian employers who are complying with their sponsorship obligations, by providing them with streamlined processing for their nominations and visa applications

* greater collaboration between the Australian Taxation Office and the Department of Immigration and Border Protection to uphold the integrity of the subclass 457 programme by cross checking to ensure that employers are paying overseas workers the correct wages and entitlements;

* criminalising fraudulent activity in the subclass 457 programme where it will be a criminal offence for sponsors to accept payment from visa applicants for a migration outcome.

“The MIA understands that most recommendations will be implemented within the next six months. However, some recommendations may require further consultation and the MIA looks forward to working with the government during the coming months on the implementation of these changes,” said Ms Chan.