Australian Immigration Daily News

The Accredited Sponsor Scheme, which allows rapid processing of skilled visas, is to be substantially expanded in a move that will benefit many Australian businesses.

Accredited sponsors typically have their Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) visa processed within five business days, compared to an average 42 business days for other TSS applicants.

Employers that have made major investments in their Australian operations will be assisted to fill temporary skill gaps through an expansion of the Scheme.

Members of Migration Alliance might remember the surveys and submissions we made on the "Caregiver Programme":

https://migrationalliance.com.au/images/documents/Live%20In%20Caregiver%20Scheme%20Results.pdf

and

The Australian Government is introducing new measures to help religious institutions access the skills they need.

Changes to the Minister of Religion Labour Agreement settings will allow religious institutions to sponsor overseas workers under the additional occupation of 'Religious Assistant'.

This broadens visa sponsorship options which were formerly limited to the occupation of 'Minister of Religion'.

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The National Farmers’ Federation has acknowledged the findings of the Migrant Workers’ Taskforce Report led by Dr Allan Fels AO and cited an agriculture-specific visa as a means to help prevent exploitation and ease the sector's labour crisis.

In the report released today, Dr Fels has made 22 recommendations to protect vulnerable workers including criminal sanctions for ‘serious and egregious’ deliberate exploitation, a bolstering of the Fair Work Ombudsman’s capacity, and the development of a National Labour Hire Registration Scheme.

Federal Jobs and Industrial Relations Minister, Kelly O’Dwyer has given ‘in principle’ support to all 22 recommendations. NFF Chief Executive Officer Tony Mahar said farmers relied on a migrant workforce and the sector had zero tolerance for the exploitation of workers.