Report pushes action on skilled migration
Skilled migrants should be given an easier path to permanent residency under a suite of measures to address the pandemic-sparked exodus of 500,000 people from Australia.
A Liberal-dominated parliamentary committee has released its final report into the nation's skilled migration program.
Under the recommendations, top performing international students would be eligible for a one-year discount on work experience needed for permanent residency.
The report also calls for the government to consider longer temporary graduate visas of three years to provide time and flexibility for migrants to find work.
All employer-nominated visas should provide the option of a pathway to permanency provided migrants are competent in English and aged under 45.
Lower skilled occupations would take longer to achieve permanent residency than more highly skilled visa holders.
More concessions would be added to temporary regional visa including raising the age limit to 50, reduction of prior experience to two years and priority processing.
Committee chair and Liberal MP Julian Leeser said the recommendations were aimed at addressing skill shortages and providing pathways to permanency.
He said the measures could also enable the best and brightest international students to help fill skill gaps in Australia.
"Over 500,000 temporary migrants have left Australia since the COVID-19 pandemic began," Mr Leeser said.
"The lack of skilled migrants coupled with record low unemployment has led to major skill shortages in many sectors of the Australian economy."
The report also calls for the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations to be replaced with a more flexible skills identification system.
Labor committee members described the findings as a missed opportunity that would make it easier for employers to bring in migrants but do nothing to boost wages or national wealth.
"This report is also a remarkable and blatant repudiation by government members of Peter Dutton's tenure as minister for immigration, recommending a reversal of many of his changes and vindication of Labor's criticisms."
A dissenting report from Greens senator Nick McKim said the recommendations would weaken labour market testing and give rich people greater access to visas.
Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson welcomed incentives for high-quality students to remain in the country.
"These are exactly the kind of highly skilled, bright students who will make a big contribution to Australian life and productivity," she said.
