LABOR ELECTION WIN AND ITS PLAN FOR AUSTRALIA IMMIGRATION
Australia Prime Minister-Elect Anthony Albanese claimed victory in the 2022 election, with results ending the nine years of conservative rule in Australia . So what does this mean for Australian immigration in the next 3 years? What is planned and what should you expect in the coming years for immigration Australia?
The scrapping of temporary protection visas
Labor’s stance on border protection and temporary protection visas has been a subject of confusion during the election campaign, though it has signalled the system needs an overhaul. The party has not released any hard and fast policies on migration.
However, Mr Albanese has indicated that he supports offshore processing, third-country resettlement of asylum seekers and boat turnbacks in certain cases, but he does not support temporary protection visas (TPVs).
Temporary Protection Visas are issued to asylum seekers who arrive in Australia without a visa, and are subsequently found to be owed protection. These visas can last for up to three years and the holders of these visas are allowed to work and have access to Medicare.
The prime minister-elect says Labor may consider granting permanent residency to foreign workers already living in Australia, given they are already paying taxes.
“If you have people who are coming here temporarily, year after year, spending month after month here, why don’t we give them a bit of certainty and actually allow people to stay who are making a contribution to the country?” Mr Albanese told the National Farmers Federation conference in April.
Following the signing of a security pact with China, Labor has said that it would reform the Pacific mobility scheme and create a new engagement visa to encourage more migration.
Permanent residency for foreign workers under Labor government
Prime Minister Elect Anthony Albanese hints that foreign workers could be allowed to live permanently in Australia if Labor wins the upcoming election. Mr Albanese told the National Farmers’ Federation that offering permanent residency would make “an enormous difference” to Australia’s ability to attract overseas workers.
A new agriculture visa, created by the government, will consider pathways to permanent residency for workers. Vietnam has agreed to participate in the new visa scheme but so far no workers have arrived in Australia under the scheme. Australia last week signed a memorandum of understanding with Vietnam about that country’s participation in the visa scheme.
Labor will bring in overseas staff to fulfil aged care election promises if elected
In a statement, Labor leader Anthony Albanese said the party will look to recruit health workers from overseas to fulfil its promise of having at least one registered nurse in every aged care facility at all times.
Last month, in his budget reply speech, Labor leader Anthony Albanese vowed that there would be one registered nurse in every aged care facility at all times within a year if Labor were elected. However, only six days later, Labor frontbencher Mark Dreyfus conceded that this plan might have to be put on hold due to staffing shortages.
In an op-ed published in The Australian newspaper, Mr. Albanese noted that nurses and doctors would be brought in from overseas to help meet the commitment.
“In the short term we must recruit more overseas doctors and nurses. But this is a stopgap measure,” he said.
“Now, 80% of nurses in aged care are currently working part-time, they want more work but they can’t get it because of the way the sector is working.”
“We do need to train more nurses and aged care workers. “
“The question is, do older Australians deserve dignity and respect in their later years … My answer to that is yes and I’m determined to deliver it.”
Labor announced plans to open 50 GP urgent care clinics across the country, but Mark Butler—the party’s shadow Health Minister—does not believe that foreign workers will be needed to ensure the plan goes ahead.
“I’ve been inundated by general practice organisations calling our office, emailing in the past several days saying they want to be part of this,” said Mr Butler.
In response to Mr Albanese’s decision to import an ageing care workforce, Health Minister Greg Hunt described it as another ‘astounding backflip’.
The move to require at least one registered nurse on duty at all times in all aged care homes responds to recommendations made by the aged care royal commission.
The Morrison government has said it supports the recommendation, but it will look to take steps to achieve the outcome closer to the July 2024 timeframe suggested by the commission.
Labor’s promise to meet this recommendation within a year of being elected is good news for families and many overworked aged care staff.
If you would like to find out more about your visa options and evaluate which pathway to take, please contact us on (03) 9092 1688 or book an appointment with us.
