Tech visa scheme to be reviewed
The twelve-month pilot of a Global Talent Scheme for tech-focused visas will be continued past its looming finish date as the federal government conducts a review of the scheme’s effectiveness.
The Global Talent Scheme was launched in July last year in an effort to placate an irate tech sector following the shock scrapping of the 457 visa in 2017. The scheme, which sits under the Temporary Skills Shortage visa class, provides visas for “highly skilled and specialised positions that can’t be filled by Australian workers”.
Under the GTS, Australian businesses can get access to fast-tracked four year visas with a pathway to permanent residency.
It is split into two streams, one for established businesses with annual turnover of more than $4 million, and a specialised startup stream.
The scheme was launched by the federal government as a 12-month pilot which will come to an end at the start of July. The Department of Home Affairs confirmed to InnovationAus.com that it would conduct a review of the scheme once it is completed in two weeks, and that the scheme would continue while this review takes place.
“The pilot will be reviewed after 12 months to assess its performance and consider any changes to settings to better achieve its goals. The GTS will continue in its current form until the review is completed and a decision on the future of the scheme is made by government,” a department spokesperson told InnovationAus.com.