How will changes to the 457 visa affect Broome business?

Written on the 20 April 2017 by Jael Napper

As the government explains its new skilled worker visa program, the Broome Chamber considers what impact this might have on businesses in Broome and the Kimberley.

The current 457 visa's will be abolished in replacement of the new temporary skills shortage visa in 12 months, March 2018, and all employees already operating under the 457 will continue under those 'grandfather' terms.  While the government has stripped the list of positions back, it appears that none of those removed skilled occupations would be crucial to the region's economic sustainability. 

The not-so-good news is that most of the crucial migrant positions that local businesses rely on are now in the Short term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), allowing up to 2 years' visa and one renewal.  Medium Term stream occupations will be considered residency after three years.

Among the skills in the short term list are accommodation & hospitality managers, aquaculture farmer, beef cattle farmer, café or restaurant manager, chef, crop farmers, jewellery designer and mining engineer.

Concessions for regional Australia will continue to be available where the government says the regions will continue to have access to occupations under the temporary and permanent visas, to address their skill needs.  Existing permanent visa concessions for regional Australia, such as waiving the nomination fee and providing age exemptions for certain occupations, will be retained. Consideration will be given to expanding the occupations in regional Australia that are exempt from the age requirement.

The reform has significantly condensed the occupation lists used for skilled migration visas, including the subclass 457 visa, from 19 April 2017.

• The Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) will replace the previous 'Skilled Occupation List' (SOL) and is available HERE.
• Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) replaced the previous 'Consolidated Sponsored Occupation List' (CSOL) and is available in Schedule 2 of the relevant legislative instrument HERE
• Information on which lists are relevant for particular visa programmes and about the occupations that were removed from the list of eligible skilled occupations on 19 April 2017 can he be found HERE

The Broome Chamber is keen to understand from local businesses how they feel these changes might impact their businesses in future.  Send us your feedback HERE.