The Coalition Government is set to change regulations to allow pipe construction vessels to use workers on maritime crew visas - so companies will not need to staff a ship with Australians.

Assistant Immigration Minister Michaelia Cash has conceded today the coalition may not be able to repeal the Migration Amendment (Offshore Resources Activity) Act 2013 (or the 'ORA Act') which was pushed through in the dying days of the Labor government that demanded employers on offshore pipe-laying vessels seek to employ Australian workers first.

Instead, the government will try to change the regulations to allow the less onerous martime crew visa to be used for such work.

"I want to see visa service delivery that meets the needs of employers without overburdening them with red tape, while ensuring that migration delivers social and economic strength, prosperity and unity," said Senator Cash to the Western Australian newspaper.

In 2012, the Federal Court ruled that foreign workers on pipe-laying vessels working on the the multibillion-dollar Gorgon gas project were outside the migration zone and did not need Australian work visas. The decision angered the powerful Maritime Union of Australia and last year the Gillard government introduced laws to recognise that anyone taking part in an offshore resources activity needed a visa.

Minister Cash noted however that if the Senate did not pass the repeal bill before it is due to take effect, the new visa arrangements that have to be implemented have been designed to ensure minimal regulatory impact.

'The government understands the value of the offshore oil and gas industry to the national economy. We are concerned that the ORA Act will impose an additional regulatory burden, and additional costs, on this critical sector and have done our very best to ensure that this does not occur,” said Senator Cash.

The new visas arrangements use existing visas that the industry is already familiar with. This will make it easier to manage the transition, and avoid the costs of developing and implementing a new visa. Under the new visa arrangements, all people who are subject to the ORA Act will need to hold either a permanent visa, or one of the following:

• the maritime crew visa for articled crew members of vessels who are participating in, or supporting, an offshore resources activity
• the temporary work (short stay activity) (subclass 400) visa for people undertaking short-term, highly specialized, non-ongoing work
• the temporary work (skilled) (subclass 457) visa for people being sponsored by an approved business for up to four years.

Further information on the new visa arrangements for the offshore resources industry is available at Department of Immigration and Border Protection website.