The Joint Standing Committee on Migration has turned its attention to skills lists, administrative requirements for Australian businesses and the complexity of Australia’s skilled migration program.

It follows the Committee handing down its interim report for its inquiry into Australia’s skilled migration program on 18 March, after receiving submissions and holding public hearings earlier in the month. The Committee received evidence from peak bodies, government departments, unions, professional associations, venture capital firms and small businesses.

The interim report provides immediate adjustments to the skilled migration program to support the pandemic recovery.  Recommendations are aimed at ensuring the skilled migration system can take advantage of the opportunity to attract highly talented individuals and business as the country moves into the next phase of economic recovery.

Twelve recommendations were included with the most notable being:

• The urgent expansion of the priority skilled occupations list to include chefs and seafarers.
• Places on flights and in hotel quarantine should be reserved for incoming skilled migrant workers.
• All employer sponsored visa holders be given a clearer path to permanency.
• Streamlining the requirements for labour market testing to be less prescriptive and burdensome for employers.
• An urgent review and expansion of the priority skilled occupations list to better reflect the urgent skills shortages (with particular consideration to civil engineers, electrical engineers, motor mechanics, cooks, carpenters and electricians.

The Committee is due to hand down its final report in July as the inquiry continues with a wider focus on long term reform of the skilled migration program.

Next steps

On behalf of the resources and energy industry, AREEA continues to advocate for critical roles to be placed on the relevant skilled occupations lists. AREEA has been supporting members affected by these skills areas and advocating to Government to address the issue.

For example, AREEA recently brought to the attention of the Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs the critical shortage of qualified chefs willing to work at remote resources and energy project residential villages.

AREEA will continue to keep members updated on any developments in relation to skilled migration. Members already experiencing acute skills shortages or expecting to experience labour shortages are encouraged to get in touch as soon as practical.

Contact [email protected] to learn how AREEA can support you.