Australian Federal Budget 2022-23: Immigration Overview
Australian Federal Budget 2022-23:
Immigration Overview
In considering means to aid Australia’s economic recovery and post-pandemic growth, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has proposed skilled permanent migration numbers to nearly double to 200,000 per year. In New South Wales, senior bureaucrats have advised that Australia needs an explosive surge of 2 million migrants in the next 5 years. The federal Treasurer has indicated that the Government is “thinking through” the migrant numbers and composition.
So what Government commitments are revealed in the Federal Budget 2022-23?
The Budget affirms the Government’s focus on supporting businesses and aiding Australia’s economic recovery by addressing workforce shortages and supporting industry sectors through targeted measures and concessions to encourage international travellers to Australia.
The Budget papers report on the various efforts made by the government since the reopening of the international borders to encourage targeted international travellers to Australia. These include measures such as visa fee refunds for specific international students and working holidaymakers and, for rural and regional employers, a commitment to bring an additional 12,500 workers under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme. The Government has also created the Australian Agriculture visa, which is a stream in the Temporary Work (International Relations) subclass 403 visa. Other measures mentioned are a relaxation of work restrictions for eligible students and working holiday visa holders, and an extension of the visa period of certain engineering graduates.
The Budget announced an increase of the country cap for work and holiday visas by 30% in 2022-23, increasing the overall places by approximately 11,000. The work and holiday visa is often used by young adults (people 18 to 30 years old, 35 in some cases) to holiday and work in Australia.
Also announced in the Budget is the permanent Migration Program planning level which will be maintained at 160,000. Furthermore, 10,000 places in the 2021-22 Migration Program from the Partner visa category will be redistributed to the Skill Stream, which will increase the Skill stream ceiling to support economic recovery by increasing the places available for skilled visa holders. Overall, Skill stream places will account for approximately 70% of the permanent Migration Program. While this is a boost for skilled migration, Partner visa granting arrangements will move to a demand-driven basis, and it is unclear how this may affect Partner visa processing times.
The Budget confirms the government’s commitment to compete with other countries in attracting and retaining global talented individuals and international investment to Australia by providing AUD19.5 million over 2 years from 2022-23 in continuing the Global Business, Talent and Investment Taskforce, as the renamed Global Australia Taskforce.
Conclusion: Australia is “open for business”. The Budget aims to attract targeted individuals and support Australian businesses in the global fight for skilled migrants, talent, and investment in dealing with labour shortages, economic recovery, and growth.
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