Australia’s skilled migration program which is intended to fill skill shortages by attracting migrants who can significantly contribute to the Australian economy.
The Skill select program allows skilled worker applicants to obtain a permanent Australia visa. The system is similar to an online job board that matches employers with potential employees.
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The Australian Agriculture visa was a program that was announced in 2021 to address labor shortages in Australia’s agricultural sector:
- Announcement: The Morrison Government announced the visa on June 16, 2021.
- Implementation: The visa came into effect on September 30, 2021, after amendments to the Migration Regulations 1994.
- Repeal: The Albanese Government repealed the visa on October 1, 2022, and incorporated its key features into the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.
- Purpose: The visa was intended to address labor shortages in the agricultural sector, including horticulture, meat processing, dairy, wool, grains, fisheries, and forestry.
- Operation: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade operated the visa, with support from the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.
- Review: The Government planned to review the program after two years.
- Concerns: Some critics raised concerns that the visa could lead to exploitation of workers, particularly those in low-wage jobs.
The Australian Agriculture visa is being designed for primary industry sectors including horticulture, meat processing, dairy, wool, grains, fisheries (including aquaculture) and forestry. The program will be operated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), leveraging their experience managing the successful Pacific Labour Scheme.
The Australian Agriculture Visa program is being introduced to address workforce shortages in the agriculture sector by building on existing government programs. It is a long-term contribution to Australia’s labour supply, intended to support Australia’s agricultural and primary industry sectors as they strive to reach $100 billion in value by 2030.
It is a stream of the Temporary Work (International Relations) subclass 403 visa.
Initial applications from workers to participate in the Agriculture Visa program will need to be completed offshore
This temporary demand driven visa enables employers to attract and employ skilled migrants to work in occupations that appear on the list of eligible occupations to address local labour shortages. There are four different streams under this visa:
- Short-term stream: A short term, temporary visa. Depending on the visa applicant’s country of origin, visa holders can stay in Australia for up to 2 years, or up to four years if an International Trade Obligation applies, or up to five years for Hong Kong passport holders.
- Medium-term stream: A temporary visa that enables a business to employ skilled workers who can stay in Australia for up to four years (or up to 5 years for Hong Kong passport holders).
- Labour agreement stream: Migration Solutions can assist employers to establish a Labour Agreement with the Australian Government. This then entitles the employer to recruit skilled migrants to live and work in Australia temporarily, for up to four years or Hong Kong passport holders for five years.
Labour Agreement
Labour agreements allow approved businesses to employ and sponsor overseas workers where there is a demand that cannot be met by the Australian local labour market and where occupations sought do not appear on other Departmental visa programs. Labour agreements are negotiated between businesses and the Department of Home Affairs and are generally in effect for five years. Different most relevant types of Labour Agreements for the Agriculture sector include:
Company Specific Labour Agreements
Company Specific Labour Agreements are available to employers where current and future workforce demand cannot be met by the local labour market. Essentially, a Company Specific Labour Agreement is something that allows employers to negotiate their own unique migration program with the Department of Home Affairs and the Minister, this can include occupations that do not appear on standard visa occupation lists. Variations to work experience, English requirements and age concessions, plus pathways to permanent residency can be negotiated in these agreements.
