The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, today released the report of the Visa Subclass 457 Integrity Review conducted by industrial relations expert Barbara Deegan.

Ms Deegan was appointed in April to conduct a broad review into the integrity of the temporary skilled migration program (subclass 457 visa). The program is an uncapped scheme driven by labour market demand which enables employers to sponsor overseas workers to fill nominated skilled positions in Australia for up to four years.

The report has been referred to the Skilled Migration Consultative Panel, which comprises representatives from business and industry groups, state governments and unions.

The panel will provide feedback and advice to Government on the report, which includes recommendations to:

• abolish the minimum salary level in favour of market rates of pay for all temporary visa holders on salaries less than $100 000

• develop an accreditation system or risk matrix to ensure rapid processing of low-risk visa applications so employers can meet skills needs quickly

• develop new lists setting out the skilled occupations for which temporary work visas can be granted

• limit visa holders to a stay of no longer than eight years in Australia (i.e. two 4-year visas or four 2-year visas) while providing a pathway to permanent residency for those who have the required language skills.

• remove regional concessions from the Subclass 457 visa program.

• provide more comprehensive information on pathways to permanent residency on DIAC website and to remove the perception that the 457 visa is a guarantee of permanency.

• enhance the scrutiny of the operations and conduct of migration agents.

• provide Medicare coverage of public health costs to Subclass 457 visa holders and their dependents by means of the proposed employer levy.

Senator Evans said Ms Deegan's recommendations and the views of the consultative panel will inform the development of the Government's reforms to the temporary skilled migration program as part of the 2009 Budget.

‘We are closely assessing the report and decisions to implement individual recommendations will be taken as part of the Budget process,' Senator Evans said.

‘We have made significant improvements to the processing times of subclass 457 visa applications this year and have no intention of complicating the process or adding red tape to the program.'

Senator Evans noted that paying market rates for temporary skilled overseas workers would ensure they were not used to undermine the wages and conditions of Australian workers.

The full report is available here - Visa Subclass 457 Integrity Review Report (403KB PDF file)

Source: Department of Immigration and Citizenship

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