Australia 2022-23 Budget supports skilled migration

On 29 March 2022, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg delivered the Federal Budget. It has been announced that the Australian Government to reinstate migration program planning levels to 160,000 in 2022-23. The focus will be on skilled migration, with an expected return to a pre-pandemic composition of roughly two-thirds skilled and one-third family streams.

The Budget includes the following immigration announcements:

• Skilled Visa Streams

The government will maintain the 2022-23 permanent migration planned intake at 160,000. Skilled migration places will increase from the 2021-22 planning levels to 109,900, and account for about 70% of the permanent migration program.

The government is redistributing 10,000 unused places from the partner program into the skilled program.

Here is a breakdown of the Skilled Stream planning levels:

Source: budget.gov.au

• Family Streams

The remaining 30% of program places will be filled with family visas. Because of the decline in on-hand Partner visa applications, parent visas have received only a minor increase in allocation.

Here is a breakdown of the Family Stream planning levels

Source: budget.gov.au

Specific Visa Programs and Streams

• Work and Holiday Visas

To support Australia’s economic future and the sustained growth of the tourism sector, the Morrison Government has announced a one-off cap increase to the number of places available to WHMs from countries with which Australia has a Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa arrangement.

WHM places will increase by 11,000 (30%) in 2022-23. To further encourage the arrival of WHMs to Australia, between 19 January 2022 and 19 April 2022, Working Holiday Maker (WHM) (subclasses 417 and 462) visa holders who arrive in Australia can apply for a refund of the visa application charge (VAC).

• Global Talent Attraction

To attract talented individuals and international investment to Australia, the Australian Government will invest $19.5 million over two years from 2022 to 2023.

• Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) Allocation

$127 million has been allocated from the fund to train in occupations that are in high demand and rely on skilled migration, such as future growth industries. They will also focus on understanding this issue from a rural and regional area perspective, as well as providing a strong focus on apprenticeships & traineeships.

• Australian Agricultural Visas

As part of the scheme, the Department of Regional Development will receive $15 million for operational staff over the next four years, aimed at increasing enforcement and deterrence activities to combat worker exploitation and minimise non-compliance rates.

• Temporary Visa Holders Experiencing Violence Pilot

The Department of Social Services (DSS) is currently running a pilot – Temporary Visa Holders Experiencing Violence- to provide direct support to women on temporary visas experiencing violence. They’ve been granted $20.3 million in funding for this purpose, which will hopefully make a difference to the lives of many.