1. Introduction

The Inquiry Process

1.1On 27 October 2022, the Joint Standing Committee on Migration (the Committee) wrote to the then Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon Clare O’Neil MP, proposing a new inquiry titled ‘Migration, Pathway to Nation Building’. On 22 November 2022, the then Minister responded by referring the new inquiry to the Committee with broad Terms of Reference, as listed at page xxvii.[1]

1.2The Committee adopted the referral on 23 November 2022, opened the inquiry for submissions and reached out to a wide array of interested parties to directly invite contributions. Submissions officially closed on 16 March 2023, but the Committee continued to accept submissions on a case-by-case basis until July 2023.

1.3In total, the inquiry received 131 submissions from a diverse range of groups and individuals, including industry peak bodies, refugee and migrant advocacy groups, migration agents, settlement service providers, think tanks and policy consultants, academics, researchers and learned societies, youth groups, and government. The full list of submissions is at Appendix A.

1.4The Committee held 11 public hearings over the course of the inquiry, hearing from 128 witnesses. Aware that regional Australia faces unique challenges that intersect with the migration system, the Committee was particularly concerned to go to a regional setting to hear directly from those living there. To this end, the Committee conducted a public hearing in the town of Robinvale, Victoria, on 27 May 2023, hearing from local businesses on how migration can be better leveraged to support regional economies and communities. A list of witnesses who appeared at these hearings is at Appendix B.

1.5As part of these public hearings, the Committee received responses to Questions on Notice and Questions in Writing from 32 witness groups. These responses are listed at Appendix C.

Background

1.6Since the formation of the new Australian Government in May 2022, there have been a number of announcements, reviews, and other developments affecting Australia’s migration system. These developments have direct bearing on the Committee’s present inquiry and are summarised below.

Jobs and Skills Summit, September 2022

1.7On 11 July 2022, the Australian Government announced that it would hold a Jobs and Skills Summit, bringing together unions, employers, civil society groups and government to discuss Australia’s current and future economic challenges. ‘Improving migration settings to support higher productivity and wages’ was announced as one of the main focus areas for the Summit.[2]

1.8On 17 August 2022, the Government released an issues paper in the lead-up to the Summit.[3] The issues paper covered five broad areas, one of which was ‘delivering a high-quality labour force through skills, training and migration’. Highlighting the significant contribution skilled visa holders make to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and noting perennial labour shortages, particularly in healthcare, technology and specialised trade roles, the paper suggested that the migration system needed reform to make it simpler and more flexible for both employers and potential migrants to navigate.[4]

1.9The Jobs and Skills Summit was held over 1–2 September 2022 at Australian Parliament House, Canberra. The second day included two sessions on migration: 1) the role of skilled migration in resolving the current skills and labour shortage crisis, and 2) a migration system for Australia’s future.[5]

Government Announcements and Outcomes

1.10During the former session, the then Minister for Home Affairs announced that the Government would increase the number of permanent migration visas available from 160,000 places to 195,000, emphasising that the Government’s priority was ‘to move away from the focus on short-term migrants, towards permanency, citizenship and nation building’.[6]

1.11In the same session, the then Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, Hon Andrew Giles MP, announced that the Government would invest $36.1 million into visa processing to surge staff capacity by 500 people over the following nine months in order to reduce the backlog of visa applications that accumulated over the COVID-19 period and to bring down visa processing times.[7]

1.12In addition to these announcements, the Government also stated that it would increase the duration of post study work rights for recent international student graduates with certain in-demand degrees by two additional years—four years for bachelor degrees, five years for master degrees, and six years for doctoral degrees—to strengthen the pipeline of skilled labour in the economy.[8]

1.13The ‘Jobs and Skills Summit—Outcomes’ document acknowledged that increasing migration numbers requires all level of government to work together to ensure that the nation’s infrastructure, housing, and social services are well planned to meet demands.[9]

1.14The Summit also served as a platform for the Government to announce a wide-ranging review of ‘the purpose, structure and objectives of Australia’s migration system’ to ensure the system is fit-for-purpose in the coming decades.[10]

A Migration System for Australia’s Future Review

1.15Pivoting off the Jobs and Skill Summit, on 2 September 2022, the then Ministers for Home Affairs, and Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs jointly announced a ‘comprehensive review’ of Australia’s migration system to report by the end of February 2023—the so-called A Migration System for Australia’s Future review (the Review). In making this announcement, the then Ministers referenced the previously announced increase of 35,000 permanent visa places available and noted the need to shift the system away from ‘a guest worker economy’ for Australia to be competitive ‘in the global race for talent’.[11]

1.16From its announcement, it is clear that the Government intended the Review to be the basis of the largest reforms to the migration system in generations. On this, the then Minister for Home Affairs stated:

This is a turning point in our history as momentous as the post war ‘populate or perish’ program that was the foundation of our post-war reconstruction, nation building and national security.[12]

1.17The then Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, meanwhile, made explicit the Government’s expectation that the review would lead to migration becoming centrally important to the project of nation building in contemporary Australia, noting that the Government:

…is committed to re-establishing immigration as a nation-building function of Government, in order to realise our full potential as a reconciled nation that harnesses its diversity.[13]

1.18The Review’s Terms of Reference pointed to demographic and economic challenges facing Australia, including an ageing population, slowing population growth, reduced productivity growth and endemic skills shortages, as the major background factors to the Review, and noted that these phenomena are mirrored across the countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). They suggested that, coupled with the employment, education, and training of Australians, migration could be leveraged to alleviate these issues, improving economic outcomes and improving Australia’s sovereign capabilities.[14]

1.19The Terms of Reference were broad in scope, encompassing any reforms for the creation of a ‘simple, efficient migration system’ that complements the economy, Australia’s education and training systems, the building of sovereign capabilities, the attraction of highly skilled migrants, the establishment of clear paths to permanent residency, and the fostering of enhanced integration with Australia’s international partners. Specifically excluded from the Terms of Reference was irregular migration, status resolution and Operation Sovereign Borders, the functions and activities of the Australia Border Force, administered programs, and Public Interest Criteria required for the approval of visas.[15]

1.20To conduct the review, the Government appointed Dr Martin Parkinson AC PSM, Professor Joanna Howe, and Mr John Azarias ‘based on their distinguished expertise’. The reviewers received submissions and conducted targeted roundtable consultations to inform their findings and recommendations.[16]

1.21In the course of the current inquiry and prior to the public release of the Review, the Committee received a private briefing from the reviewers on the findings and likely outcomes of the Review.

Discussion Paper and Final Report

1.22In November 2022, the reviewers released a discussion paper to help guide submitters to the Review. This paper noted that the ‘current migration system is complex and inflexible, lacks a strategic rationale, and no longer meets our demands’ and suggested that it was time to ‘consider the merits of a whole-of-government approach to a redesigned migration system’ through a new migration strategy. The paper then outlined the challenges and opportunities for the current migration system and posed a range of questions for stakeholders to engage with in providing submissions to the Review.[17]

1.23The reviewers presented their final report—Review of the Migration System— (the Report) to the Government on 21 March 2023.[18] Centrally, the Report noted that Australia’s current migration system is ‘not fit for purpose’ and, going back to first principles, sought to ‘delineate the objectives of the migration system’.[19]

1.24As noted by the reviewers, the myriad of problems facing the migration system are the result of a lack of clearly delineated objectives guiding the system. As with other areas of public policy, setting clear objectives for the migration system, they argued, is vital for good policy design and implementation. This is particularly important for large and complex systems with significant public impact, such as migration.[20]

1.25To this end, the Report identified five core objectives upon which to re-build the migration system in the promotion of Australia’s national interest:

1Building Australia’s prosperity by lifting productivity, meeting labour supply needs and by supporting exports;

2Enabling a fair labour market, including by complementing the jobs, wages, and conditions of domestic workers;

3Building a community of Australians;

4Protecting Australia’s interests in the world; and

5Providing a fast, efficient, and fair system.[21]

1.26In pursuance of these core objectives, the reviewers provided 12 broad reform directions, further subdivided into 38 more detailed options, for the Government to consider. The 12 reform directions were:

1Develop a clear migration strategy to guide Australia over coming decades;

2Redefine how Australia determines the size and composition of the migration program;

3Better target permanent skilled visas to maximise economic outcomes and remain internationally competitive;

4Be led by the evidence, in temporary skilled migration;

5Adopt principles and guardrails to manage risk in temporary skilled migration;

6Resolve and avoid ‘permanently temporary’ migration;

7Restore the Working Holiday Maker program to its original intention;

8Review approach to Parent visas;

9Strengthen international student outcomes and transitions;

10Unlock all migrant potential;

11Improve and restore clarity to the role of migration in international relations; and

12Invest in policy, service delivery and enabling capabilities.[22]

1.27In laying out the need for a new migration strategy based on clear objectives, the Report noted the crucial importance of maintaining public confidence in the system and what it aims to achieve. While many factors can influence how the public view migration, several key factors in bolstering confidence in the system include: a need to ensure the working rights and conditions of all migrants are protected so as to avoid perceptions that migration is being used to erode local wages and conditions; maximising social cohesion through the successful integration of migrants into Australia’s multicultural society; maintaining the integrity of the system by minimising illegitimacy and ensuring monitoring and compliance; and ensuring transparency and fairness in the system.[23]

1.28Closely related to the need for the system to have clearly articulated objectives is the necessity for the management of the system to be coordinated. The Report noted that the migration system is currently viewed by different areas of government as a tool to achieve specific policy objectives within each of these areas’ policy focus. Such a dispersed approach has led to confusion and complexity as to what the system’s objectives are. The Report emphasised the need for one section of government to take stewardship of the migration system in entirety to ensure it stays focused on its core objectives.[24]

1.29Added to this, the Report argued the need for Government to re-build and better value capability and expertise on immigration within government through investment in staff development, technological improvements and culture change within the Department of Home Affairs.[25]

Government Response to the Report

Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold and Temporary Skills Shortage Visa Holders

1.30As a first response to the findings of the Report, on 27 April 2023, the Government announced an increase to the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) from $53,900 to $70,000, commencing from 1 July 2023.[26]

1.31The TSMIT sets the minimum salary an employer must meet when nominating a skilled migrant for subclass 482, 494, 186 and 187 visas to work in the country. The rationale for the TSMIT is to ensure that these visas subclasses are not used to undercut the Australian labour market.[27]

1.32In announcing this change, the Government highlighted that the previous TSMIT ($53,900) had been frozen since 2013 and that 90 per cent of all full-time jobs in Australia currently paid a salary above it. The new TSMIT ($70,000) was reached through a calculation of what the old TSMIT would have been approximately had it been indexed to inflation.[28] The then Minister for Home Affairs emphasised that the change would ensure the program was functioning as ‘a skilled worker program, not a guest worker program’.[29]

1.33At the same time, the Government also announced that all Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) short term visa holders would be able to access a pathway to permanent residency within the existing capped permanent program.[30]

The Draft Migration Strategy

1.34Secondly and more fundamentally, on the same day as the above announcements, the then Minister for Home Affairs announced the release of the Government’s draft Australian Migration Strategy—A Migration System for a More Prosperous and Secure Australia (the draft strategy). The draft strategy outlined ‘a series of directions for significant reform’ and invited consultation by stakeholders. A finalised strategy was earmarked for release by the end of 2023.[31]

1.35The draft strategy reproduced the five core objective identified in the Report and highlighted the lack a ‘national long-term planning process’ to manage migration, despite migration accounting for two-thirds of Australia’s population growth.[32]

1.36In addressing this lack of planned management in the migration system, the draft strategy called for the creation of a ‘new nation building endeavour with state and territory governments to plan our migration intake’.[33] Central aspects of this endeavour include the alignment of infrastructure, state and territory governments better identifying the needs and priorities of their migrant communities, the introduction of faster pathways to permanency, improving compliance around international students, reducing the number of international students on bridging visas, and reducing exploitation of vulnerable and insecure migrant workers.[34]

The Migration Strategy

1.37On 11 December 2023, the Government released the Migration Strategy – Getting migration working for the nation report (the Strategy). The Strategy recognised that migrants have been and will remain ‘an essential part of Australia’s economic and social fabric’ that have helped build Australia’s ‘modern dynamism and diversity, contributing their skills, experience and cultures to the making of a nation that is both outward-facing and internally cohesive’.[35]

1.38Despite this, the Strategy also acknowledged that Australia’s ‘migration system is not the nation building engine it once was’, as it fails to adequately attract and retain people who are best placed to lift the nation’s skill base, boost exports, improve productivity, and raise living standards. As such, the Strategy finds that the permanent migration program ‘could be better targeted towards lifting Australia’s long-term economic productivity and workforce participation’.[36]

1.39As noted above, the Report found that ‘a lack of clarity on what Australia has been trying to achieve through migration is at the heart of the problems the system faces today’.[37] In response to this, the Strategy sets five ‘core objectives’ to underpin the migration system going forward. These are:

• Raising living standards by boosting productivity, meeting skills shortages and supporting exports;
• Ensuring a fair go in the workplace by complementing the jobs, wages and conditions of all workers and preventing migrant worker exploitation;
• Building stronger Australian communities by better planning the migration intake, and giving migrants the opportunity to invest their lives in Australia through permanent residence and citizenship; and
• Strengthening international relationships by building stronger economic and social connections with our region and international partners.
• Making the system work by being fast, efficient and fair for migrants and employers.[38]
  40. In order to achieve these objectives, the Strategy sets out a comprehensive approach based on eight ‘key actions’ developed through consultation with ‘business, unions, civil, international education, civil society and many Australians’ and based around the main findings of the Report. The eight key actions are as follows:

1Targeting temporary skilled migration to address skills needs and promote worker mobility.

• A new Skills in Demand visa with 3 targeted pathways, and visa settings that encourage migrant worker mobility in the labour market.

2Reshaping permanent skilled migration to drive long-term prosperity.

• A commitment to explore a reformed points test for permanent skilled migration, and a new Talent and Innovation visa for migrants who can drive growth in sectors of national importance.

3Strengthening the integrity and quality of international education.

• A package of integrity measures to lift the standards for international students and education providers, while ensuring graduates help meet skills shortages and do not become ‘permanently temporary’.

4Tackling worker exploitation and the misuse of the visa system.

• A comprehensive suite of legislation, powers, penalties and policies to combat worker exploitation and restore integrity to the migration system.

5Planning migration to get the right skills in the right places.

• A longer-term, evidence-based approach to planning migration that closely collaborates with states and territories and ensures population planning is based on the best available population data and forecasts.

6Tailoring regional visas and the Working Holiday Makers program to support regional Australia and its workers.

• A new direction to ensure visas for regional Australia are prioritised first, and a commitment to evaluating regional migration settings and the Working Holiday Maker program to ensure migration supports development objectives in regional Australia and does not contribute to worker exploitation.

7Deepening our people-to-people ties in the Indo-Pacific.

• A new approach to developing people-to-people links with our region, including through a direct pathway to citizenship for New Zealand and increased mobility with Pacific Island and Southeast Asian countries.

8Simplifying the migration system to improve the experience for migrants and employers.

• A system-wide simplification agenda that will streamline visa settings, reduce visa classes and make the system easier to use.[39]

Multicultural Framework Review

1.41On 2 June 2023, the Government announced another major review with direct implications for the current inquiry—the Multicultural Framework Review (the review)—a ‘first principles review of multiculturalism in Australia’.[40] The review was directed to consider the institutional arrangements and policy and legislative settings of the Commonwealth in relation to multiculturalism. The review was to be guided by the following three principles:

• Advancing a multicultural Australia;
• Supporting Australia’s cohesive and inclusive multicultural society; and
• Ensuring settings are fit for purpose in harnessing the talents of all Australians.[41]
  42. The Government appointed a panel of ‘three eminent Australians’ to conduct the review. The panel consisted of Dr Bulent Hass Dellal AO as Chair, Ms Nyadol Nyuon OAM, and Ms Christine Castley.[42] The Panel was supported by a Reference Group made up of representatives from peak bodies, community groups and civil society organisations.
  43. On the announcement of the review, the Government called for submissions from interested parties and flagged that the review panel would be conducting nation-wide consultations with key community stakeholders, Commonwealth and state and territory government officials, and members of the public to inform the review.[43]
  44. On 24 July 2024, the Government announced the release of the report of the Multicultural Framework Review, entitled Towards Fairness—a multicultural Australia for all (the report). Upon release of the report, the Government noted that ‘Australia’s last major review of multiculturalism was more than half a century ago’ and since that time, Australia had been ‘transformed into a nation which welcomes people from nearly every country on Earth’.[44]
  45. The Multicultural Framework Review received a total of 796 submissions from across the Australian community, including 126 in languages other than English, following consultations with over 1400 individuals and 750 organisations.[45]
  46. The Towards Fairness report offers recommendations ‘on what measures are needed to remain a country that continues to enjoy the benefits of its diversity and the measures needed to adapt to the present social, economic and political landscape’. Of note, the report emphasises that the ‘principles of mutual respect and equality embedded in multiculturalism are not privileges reserved for a select few; they are fundamental indicators of societal wellbeing for all and a way of fostering a thriving, harmonious community’.[46]
  47. The report outlined a roadmap for ‘a renewed multicultural framework’, based on three interconnected principles: 1) Connection (setting the foundations); 2) Identity and Belonging (creating a welcoming Australia); and 3) Inclusion (working together to get services right). The roadmap, according to the report, ‘along with the right institutional settings, provides the continuum needed to sustain a successful, fair multicultural Australia for all’.[47]
  48. In total, the report provides 29 recommendations, including the following 10 ‘high-priority recommendations’:

1Australian Government to affirm commitment to multicultural Australia;

2Australia to formally observe the UN International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 21 March;

3Develop a national plan to celebrate Australia’s cultural diversity, to synchronise existing federal, state, territory and local government initiatives such as Harmony Week to acknowledge and celebrate Australia’s cultural diversity;

4Establish a Multicultural Affairs Commission and Commissioner, and standalone Department of Multicultural Affairs, Immigration and Citizenship, with a dedicated minister;

5The Department of Home Affairs, through government and non-government consultation to action an immediate review of the Australian citizenship test procedures, including considering providing the test n languages other than English and in alternative and more accessible formats;

6Leverage Australia’s diversity of languages to support our economic prosperity through a revitalised language policy led by the Australian Government;

7Ensure the sustainability and quality of language services (interpreting and translating);

8Establish a fully funded TIS [Translating and Interpreting Services] National capacity within the existing business unit;

9Boost National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) funding; and

10Improve efficiency and effectiveness of multicultural grants and funding programs, with consultation and co-design of guidelines and common standards across the Australian Government, state and territory and local governments and community sectors.[48]

Other Government Announcements

Temporary Protection Visa and Safe Haven Enterprise Visa holders

1.49On 13 February 2023, the Government announced that refugees on Temporary Protection (subclass 785) visas (TPV) and Safe Haven Enterprise (subclass 790) visas (SHEV) would be provided a pathway to permanent residency.[49] The announcement applies to refugees on TPVs and SHEVs who arrived prior to the commencement of Operation Sovereign Borders in 2014 and were holding a valid TPV or SHEV prior to 14 February 2023. The decision effects approximately 19,000 refugees, who are now eligible to apply for a Resolution of Status visa.

1.50The announcement does not apply to those persons who arrived prior to the commencement of Operation Sovereign Borders but have subsequently been found not to be owed protection as a refugee—that is, those not holding a TPV or SHEV visa. This groups comprises approximately 12,000 people.

1.51This decision, also, does not apply to any person arriving as an Unauthorised Maritime Arrival after 14 February 2023. Under Operation Sovereign Borders, such people are subject to offshore processing and are not eligible for permanent protection. As the then Minister for Home Affairs made clear at the time of the announcement, there was ‘zero chance of settling in Australia under Operation Sovereign Borders’ for those arriving irregularly without a valid visa.[50] Such persons who are found not to engage the country’s protection obligations and have exhausted all other avenues to remain in Australia, are required to depart as soon as possible.

Direct Pathway to Australian Citizenship for New Zealanders

1.52On 22 April 2023, the Prime Minister, Hon Anthony Albanese MP, the then Minister for Home Affairs, and the then Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs jointly announced a new direct pathway to Australian citizenship for eligible New Zealanders.

1.53Under this change, as of 1 July 2023, New Zealanders on Special Category (subclass 444) visas in Australia are able to apply directly for citizenship without having to become permanent residents first, provided that they meet a four-year residence and other eligibility requirements.[51]

Best Practice Principles and Standards for Skilled Migration Assessing Authorities

1.54On 12 September 2023, the then Minister for Home Affairs, the then Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multiculturalism, and the then Minister for Skills and Training, Hon Brendan O’Connor MP, announced a review of the skills assessments processes for migrant workers.[52] The review aims to ‘develop new standards for skilled migration assessing authorities to raise the integrity, quality and timeliness of migration skills assessments’ to improve outcomes for migrants, employers, and industry.[53]

1.55As part of this review, the Government released a discussion paper, ‘Draft Best Practice Principles and Standards for Skilled Migration Assessing Authorities’, and is consulting a range of stakeholders, including assessing authorities, government departments, education and training providers, business and industry groups, unions, and multicultural community organisations.[54]

Report Structure

1.56The report consists of 12 chapters.

Chapter 1: Introduction

1.57Chapter 1, the present chapter, provides relevant background information, including recent Government announcements and reviews with direct bearing on the inquiry, and an overview of the conduct of the inquiry.

Chapter 2: Migration and the Formation of Modern Australia

1.58Chapter 2 provides a historical overview of the role that migration has played in the formation of modern Australia. The earliest migrations into the continent occurred 60,000 years ago with the arrival of Australia’s First Nations’ people. In more recent times, large-scale migration from the British Isles and later from all over the world has forged Australia as one of the world’s most successful multicultural societies. The chapter establishes the essential place of migration in the story of modern Australia and for our future nation building efforts.

Chapter 3: Migration and Nation Building

1.59Chapter 3 discusses, in conceptual terms, the central place migration has played and will continue to play in the endeavour of nation building in Australia. It provides an overview of the concept of nation building and examines how it is inextricably entwined with migration in the Australia context. It examines why migration is important to Australia, economically, socially, and culturally.

Chapter 4: Australia’s Migration System

1.60Chapter 4 provides a factual overview of the current state of the migration system in Australia. The chapter provides the necessary background to understanding current challenges in the system and opportunities for improvements.

Chapter 5: Attracting and Retaining Skilled Migrants

1.61Chapter 5 acknowledges that Australia is in a global competition for highly skilled migrant workers and that there is a need to tailor policy to improve how we attract and retain such highly sought after workers. The chapter focuses on the cultural and institutional environment within which our migration policy is set and administered.

Chapter 6: Reducing Complexities and Costs, Improving Processing Times and Transparency

1.62Chapter 6 addresses the widely acknowledged flaws in our current visa processing system and provides recommendations to improve these processes. Our current system is overly complex, costly, and comparatively slow and fails to serve the needs and interests of Australian businesses, the Australian community, and prospective migrants.

Chapter 7: Skilled Migration

1.63Chapter 7 discusses ongoing and endemic skills shortages within the Australian economy and the role that the migration system should play in helping to ameliorate this. It outlines current challenges faced by Australian businesses in accessing appropriately skilled workers from overseas and provides recommendations for improving the system

Chapter 8: Maximising the Workforce and Social Participation of Migrants and their Families

1.64Chapter 8 examines how we can maximise the contribution that migrants and their families make to both the Australian economy and wider society. Migrants come to Australia with much to contribute, but often the system fails to support these migrants and their families in maximising their contribution. The chapter focus on the need for robust settlement services to support migrants in their integration into Australian society.

Chapter 9: Humanitarian Entrants

1.65Chapter 9 is dedicated to examining our current Humanitarian Program and how it can be improved for the benefit of refugees, asylum seekers and other displaced persons, and Australia. Refugees have been an important component to our wider migration program since the Second World War, and refugees have contributed immeasurably to Australian life. Improving the current system will allow humanitarian entrants to contribute even more.

Chapter 10: Regional Migration

1.66Chapter 10 deals with the unique challenges and opportunities that are experienced by regional Australia in relation to migration policy. Regional businesses often rely heavily on migrant labour and many regional settings have thriving migrant communities. Yet, Australia’s biggest cities still often disproportionally attract the largest share of migrants. Ensuring that regional locations can access and retain migrant workers will have substantial benefits for regional communities, regional businesses, and migrants.

Chapter 11: Improving our Research Capacity

1.67Good public policy must be founded on robust research. Chapter 11 looks at how government can produce better migration policy outcomes with a stronger focus on research.

Chapter 12: Conclusions

1.68Chapter 12 summarises the key findings and recommendations of the inquiry and earmarks areas for further inquiry.

Footnotes

[1]Hon Clare O’Neil MP, Minister for Home Affairs, to Ms Maria Vamvakinou MP, Chair, Joint Standing Committee on Migration, 22 November 2022, https://www.aph.gov.au/-/media/02_Parliamentary_Business/24_Committees/244_Joint_Committees/Migration/47p/Migration_Pathway/Letter_from_the_Minister_for_Home_Affairs_-_22_Nov_2022.pdf?la=en&hash=CEF8AAD92EB727F0F9B8C6A53A8BDCBCE6698A85, viewed 15 August 2023.

[2]Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister and Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP, Treasurer, ‘Jobs and Skills Summit to be held in September’, Joint Media Release, 11 July 2022, https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/jim-chalmers-2022/media-releases/jobs-and-skills-summit-be-held-september, viewed 17 August 2023.

[3]Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP, Treasurer, ‘Release of Jobs and Skills Summit issues paper’, Media Release, 17 August 2022, https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/jim-chalmers-2022/media-releases/release-jobs-and-skills-summit-issues-paper, viewed 17 August 2023.

[4]Australian Government, ‘Jobs + Skills Summit: Issues paper’, 17 August 2022, https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-08/2022-302672-ip_0.pdf, viewed 17 August 2023.

[5]Australian Government, ‘Jobs and Skills Summit: Agenda’, https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/inline-files/jobs-and-skills-summit-final-agenda_0.pdf, viewed 17 August 2023.

[6]Hon Clare O’Neil MP, Minister for Home Affairs, ‘Jobs and Skills Summit – The role of skilled migration in resolving the current skills and labour shortage crisis’, Media Release, 2 September 2022, https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/ClareONeil/Pages/transcript-job-skills-summit-skilled-migration-02092022.aspx, viewed 17 August 2023.

[7]Hon Andrew Giles MP, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multiculture Affairs, ‘Speech at the National Jobs and Skills Summit’, Media Release, 2 September 2022, https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/AndrewGiles/Pages/speech-national-jobs-skills-summit.aspx, viewed 17 August 2023.

[8]Australian Government, ‘Jobs +Skills Summit: Outcomes’, p. 4, https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/inline-files/Jobs-and-Skills-Summit-Outcomes-Document.pdf, viewed 17 August 2023; Australian Government, ‘Extended Post-Study Work Rights: Eligible Occupations and Qualifications’, 21 February 2023, https://www.education.gov.au/download/15013/list-occupations-and-qualifications-eligible-post-study-work-rights-extension/31474/document/pdf, viewed 17 August 2023.

[9]Australian Government, ‘Jobs +Skills Summit: Outcomes’, p. 5, https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/inline-files/Jobs-and-Skills-Summit-Outcomes-Document.pdf, viewed 17 August 2023; Australian Government, ‘Extended Post-Study Work Rights: Eligible Occupations and Qualifications’, 21 February 2023, https://www.education.gov.au/download/15013/list-occupations-and-qualifications-eligible-post-study-work-rights-extension/31474/document/pdf, viewed 17 August 2023.

[10]Australian Government, ‘Jobs +Skills Summit: Outcomes’, p. 4, https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/inline-files/Jobs-and-Skills-Summit-Outcomes-Document.pdf, viewed 17 August 2023; Australian Government, ‘Extended Post-Study Work Rights: Eligible Occupations and Qualifications’, 21 February 2023, https://www.education.gov.au/download/15013/list-occupations-and-qualifications-eligible-post-study-work-rights-extension/31474/document/pdf, viewed 17 August 2023.

[11]Hon Clare O’Neil MP, Minister for Home Affairs, and Hon Andrew Giles MP, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, ‘Australia’s Migration Future’, Joint Media Release, 2 September 2022, https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/ClareONeil/Pages/australias-migration-future.aspx, viewed 17 August 2023.

[12]Hon Clare O’Neil MP, Minister for Home Affairs, cited in Hon Clare O’Neil MP, Minister for Home Affairs, and Hon Andrew Giles MP, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, ‘Australia’s Migration Future’, Joint Media Release, 2 September 2022, https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/ClareONeil/Pages/australias-migration-future.aspx, viewed 18 August 2023.

[13]Hon Andrew Giles MP, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, cited in Hon Clare O’Neil MP, Minister for Home Affairs, and Hon Andrew Giles MP, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, ‘Australia’s Migration Future’, Joint Media Release, 2 September 2022, https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/ClareONeil/Pages/australias-migration-future.aspx, viewed 18 August 2023.

[14]Department of Home Affairs, ‘A Migration System for Australia’s Future: Terms of Reference for the Independent Strategy Leads’, https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/reports-and-pubs/files/terms-of-reference-migration-strategy.pdf, viewed 22 August 2023.

[15]Department of Home Affairs, ‘A Migration System for Australia’s Future: Terms of Reference for the Independent Strategy Leads’, https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/reports-and-pubs/files/terms-of-reference-migration-strategy.pdf, viewed 22 August 2023.

[16]Department of Home Affairs, ‘A Migration System for Australia’s Future’, https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/reports-and-publications/reviews-and-inquiries/departmental-reviews/migration-system-for-australias-future, viewed 22 August 2023.

[17]Department of Home Affairs, ‘A Migration System for Australia’s Future’, Discussion Paper, November 2022, https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/reports-and-pubs/files/reviews-and-inquiries/discussion_paper.pdf, pp. 2, 3-12, viewed 22 August 2023.

[18]Department of Home Affairs, ‘A Migration System for Australia’s Future’, https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/reports-and-publications/reviews-and-inquiries/departmental-reviews/migration-system-for-australias-future, viewed 21 August 2023.

[19]Australian Government, Review of the Migration System, Final Report, March 2023, pp. 1, 2.

[20]Australian Government, Review of the Migration System, Final Report, March 2023, p. 21.

[21]Australian Government, Review of the Migration System, Final Report, March 2023, pp. 3, 22.

[22]Australian Government, Review of the Migration System, Final Report, March 2023, pp. 7-10.

[23]Australian Government, Review of the Migration System, Final Report, March 2023, p. 27.

[24]Australian Government, Review of the Migration System, Final Report, March 2023, p. 29.

[25]Australian Government, Review of the Migration System, Final Report, March 2023, p. 29 and Chapter 18.

[26]Hon Clare O’Neil MP, Minister for Home Affairs and Hon Andrew Giles MP, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs ‘Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold Raised to $70,000’, Joint Media Release, 27 April 2023, https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/ClareONeil/Pages/temporary-skilled-migration-income-threshold-raised.aspx, viewed 14 September 2023.

[27]Department of Home Affairs, ‘Nominating a position—salary requirements’, https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/employing-and-sponsoring-someone/sponsoring-workers/nominating-a-position/salary-requirements, viewed 14 September 2023.

[28]Hon Clare O’Neil MP, Minister for Home Affairs and Hon Andrew Giles MP, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, ‘Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold Raised to $70,000’, Joint Media Release, 27 April 2023, https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/ClareONeil/Pages/temporary-skilled-migration-income-threshold-raised.aspx, viewed 14 September 2023.

[29]Hon Clare O’Neil MP, Minister for Home Affairs, ‘Australia’s Migration System’, National Press Club address, 27 April 2023, https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/ClareONeil/Pages/national-press-club-address-australias-migration-system-27042023.aspx, viewed 12 September 2023.

[30]Hon Clare O’Neil MP, Minister for Home Affairs and Hon Andrew Giles MP, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, ‘Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold Raised to $70,000’, Joint Media Release, 27 April 2023, https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/ClareONeil/Pages/temporary-skilled-migration-income-threshold-raised.aspx, viewed 14 September 2023.

[31]Hon Clare O’Neil MP, Minister for Home Affairs, ‘Australia’s Migration System’, National Press Club address, 27 April 2023, https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/ClareONeil/Pages/national-press-club-address-australias-migration-system-27042023.aspx, viewed 12 September 2023

[32]Department of Home Affairs, ‘A Migration System for a More Prosperous and Secure Australia: Outline of the Government’s Migration Strategy’, April 2023, p. 2, https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/programs-subsite/files/migration-strategy-outline.pdf, viewed 14 September 2023.

[33]Department of Home Affairs, ‘A Migration System for a More Prosperous and Secure Australia: Outline of the Government’s Migration Strategy’, April 2023, p. 6, https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/programs-subsite/files/migration-strategy-outline.pdf, viewed 14 September 2023.

[34]Department of Home Affairs, ‘A Migration System for a More Prosperous and Secure Australia: Outline of the Government’s Migration Strategy’, April 2023, p. 6, https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/programs-subsite/files/migration-strategy-outline.pdf, viewed 14 September 2023.

[35]Australian Government, Migration Strategy – Getting migration working for the nation, December 2023, p. 8.

[36]Australian Government, Migration Strategy – Getting migration working for the nation, December 2023, p. 10.

[37]Australian Government, Review of the Migration System, Final Report, March 2023, p. 21.

[38]Australian Government, Migration Strategy – Getting migration working for the nation, December 2023, p. 12.

[39]Australian Government, Migration Strategy – Getting migration working for the nation, December 2023, p. 13.

[40]Hon Andrew Giles MP, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, ‘Submissions open for the Multicultural Framework Review’, Media Release, 15 August 2023, https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/AndrewGiles/Pages/submissions-open-multicultural-framework-review.aspx, viewed 20 September 2023; Australian Government, Multicultural Framework Review, ‘Terms of Reference’, https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about-us/our-portfolios/multicultural-framework-review/terms-of-reference, viewed 20 September 2023.

[41]Department of Home Affairs, ‘Terms of Reference’, Multicultural Framework Review, https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about-us/our-portfolios/multicultural-framework-review/terms-of-reference, viewed 20 September 2023.

[42]Department of Home Affairs, ‘Panel and Reference Group’, Multicultural Framework Review, https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about-us/our-portfolios/multicultural-framework-review/panel-and-reference-group, viewed 21 September 2023.

[43]Department of Home Affairs, ‘Multicultural Framework Review’, https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about-us/our-portfolios/multicultural-framework-review/multicultural-framework-review, viewed 21 September 2023.

[44]Hon Andrew Giles MP, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, ‘An Australia for all: the Multicultural Framework Review’, Media Release, 24 July 2024, https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/AndrewGiles/Pages/an-australia-for-all-the-multicultural-framework-review-24072024.aspx, viewed 9 August 2024.

[45]Hon Andrew Giles MP, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, ‘An Australia for all: the Multicultural Framework Review’, Media Release, 24 July 2024, https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/AndrewGiles/Pages/an-australia-for-all-the-multicultural-framework-review-24072024.aspx, viewed 9 August 2024.

[46]Australian Government, Towards Fairness: A multicultural Australia for all, 2024, p. 11.

[47]Australian Government, Towards Fairness: A multicultural Australia for all, 2024, pp. 15-16.

[48]Australian Government, Towards Fairness: A multicultural Australia for all, 2024, p. 17.

[49]Hon Clare O’Neil MP, Minister for Home Affairs and Hon Andrew Giles, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, ‘Delivering a permanent pathway for Temporary Protection Visas holders’, Joint Media Release, 13 February 2023, https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/ClareONeil/Pages/permanent-pathway-for-tpv-holders.aspx, viewed 21 September 2023.

[50]Hon Clare O’Neil MP, Minister for Home Affairs and Hon Andrew Giles, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, ‘Delivering a permanent pathway for Temporary Protection Visas holders’, Joint Media Release, 13 February 2023, https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/ClareONeil/Pages/permanent-pathway-for-tpv-holders.aspx, viewed 21 September 2023.

[51]Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister, Hon Clare O’Neil MP, Minister for Home Affairs, Hon Andrew Giles MP, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, ‘Direct pathway to Australian citizenship for New Zealanders’, Joint Media Release, 22 April 2023, https://www.pm.gov.au/media/direct-pathway-australian-citizenship-new-zealanders, viewed 19 February 2024.

[52]Hon Clare O’Neil MP, Minister for Home Affairs, Hon Andrew Giles MP, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, Hon Brendan O’Connor MP, Minister Skills and Training, ‘Skills assessment reform for migrant and local businesses’, Joint Media Release, 12 September 2023, https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/ClareONeil/Pages/skills-assessment-reform-migrants-local-businesses-12092023.aspx, viewed 20 February 2024.

[53]Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, ‘Best Practice Principles and Standards for Skilled Migration Assessing Authorities’, https://consultations.dewr.gov.au/best-practice-principles-and-standards-for-skilled-migration-assessing-authorities, viewed 20 February 2024.

[54]Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, ‘Best Practice Principles and Standards for Skilled Migration Assessing Authorities’, https://consultations.dewr.gov.au/best-practice-principles-and-standards-for-skilled-migration-assessing-authorities, viewed 20 February 2024