Recommendation 5.1A
Commission an independent review of Australia’s skilled visa regime. Such a review should consider how to improve processes to engage business and education sector representatives in designing the skilled migration system, and how to better align visa rules with the service sector’s skills requirements.
Numerous reviews of Australia’s skilled visa programs have been conducted in recent years including the 2014 Independent Review into Integrity in the Subclass 457 program. The Government’s reform package of 2017/2018 to strengthen the integrity and quality of the skilled migration programs was informed by this review and later reviews including: the 2016 Productivity Commission Inquiry Report: Migrant Intake into Australia; the 2016 Review of the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold; and the 2016 Senate Inquiry: A National Disgrace: The Exploitation of Temporary Work Visa Holders.
These reviews involved extensive consultation with individuals; academics; organisations and businesses that use employer sponsored visa programs; migration agents; representatives of foreign governments; and other government departments and agencies.