Abolition of the Subclass 457 Visa

In a shock announcement today, the Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, announced that the Subclass 457 (Temporary Work- Skilled) program will be abolished in March 2018 and replaced with a different visa, under the Temporary Skilled Shortage (TSS) program.

In the first of a series of reforms which will progressively occur, the Consolidated Sponsored Occupation List (CSOL) will be amended from tomorrow; and a large number of occupations will be removed from the list.

The Department of Immigration lists the following key reforms.

  • Introducing the temporary skill shortage visa with new requirements, including but not limited to:
    • new, more targeted occupation lists which better align with skill needs in the Australian labour market
    • a requirement for visa applicants to have at least two years’ work experience in their skilled occupation
    • a minimum market salary rate which ensures that overseas workers cannot be engaged to undercut Australian workers
    • mandatory labour market testing, unless an international obligation applies,
    • capacity for only one onshore visa renewal under the Short-Term stream
    • capacity for visa renewal onshore and a permanent residence pathway after three years under the Medium-Term stream
    • the permanent residence eligibility period will be extended from two to three years
    • a non-discriminatory workforce test to ensure employers are not actively discriminating against Australian workers
    • strengthened requirement for employers to contribute to training Australian workers
    • the Department of Immigration and Border Protection will collect Tax File Numbers and data will be matched with the Australian Tax Office’s records, and
    • mandatory penal clearance certificates to be provided.
  • Tightening eligibility requirements for employer sponsored permanent skilled visas, including but not limited to:
    • tightened English language requirements
    • a requirement for visa applicants to have at least three years’ work experience
    • applicants must be under the maximum age requirement of 45 at the time of application
    • strengthened requirement for employers to contribute to training Australian workers, and
    • employers must pay the Australian market salary rate and meet the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (currently set at $53 900).
  • Concessions for regional Australia will continue to be available:
    • Employers in regional Australia will continue to have access to occupations under the temporary and permanent visas, to reflect their skills needs.
    • Existing permanent visa concessions for regional Australia, such as waiving the nomination fee and providing age exemptions for certain occupations, will be retained. Consideration will be given to expanding the occupations in regional Australia that are exempt from the age requirement.
  • Significantly condensing the occupation lists used for skilled migration visas, including the subclass 457 visa, from 19 April 2017.

 

Which Occupations are being removed?

The following occupations will no longer be available for Employer Sponsorship from 19th April 2017.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker 411511
Actor 211111
Actors, Dancers and Other Entertainers NEC 211199
Aeroplane Pilot 231111
Air Traffic Controller 231112
Air Transport Professionals NEC 231199
Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Avionics) 323111
Amusement Centre Manager 149111
Antique Dealer 142112
Apparel Cutter 393211
Archaeologist 272414
Archivist 224211
Art Director (Film, Television or Stage) 212311
Artistic Director 212111
Auctioneer 611111
Author 212211
Bed and Breakfast Operator 141911
Betting agency Manager 142113
Biochemist 234513
Biotechnologist 234514
Blacksmith 322111
Boarding Kennel or Cattery Operator 149911
Broadcast Transmitter Operator 399511
Building and Engineering Technicians NEC 312999
Business Broker 612111
Butcher or Smallgoods Maker 351211
Call or Contact Centre Manager 149211
Canvas Goods Fabricator 393111
Caravan Park and Camping Ground Manager 141211
Cinema or Theatre Manager 149912
Clinical Coder 599915
Clothing Patternmaker 393212
Clothing Trades Workers NEC 393299
Commissioned Defence Force Officer 139111
Commissioned Fire Officer 139112
Commissioned Police Officer 139113
Communications Operator 342312
Community Arts Worker 272611
Composer 211211
Conservation Officer 234311
Construction Estimator 312114
Conveyancer 599111
Corporate Treasurer 221212
Court Bailiff or Sheriff (Aus) / Court Collections Officer (NZ) 599212
Deer Farmer 121314
Defence Force Member – Other Ranks 441111
Defence Force Senior Officer 111212
Dental Hygienist 411211
Dental Prosthetist 411212
Dental Therapist 411214
Detective 441311
Director of Photography 212313
Diver 399911
Dog or Horse Racing Official 452318
Drama Teacher (Private Tuition) 249213
Dressmaker or Tailor 393213
Driller 712211
Driving Instructor 451211
Education Reviewer 249112
Electorate Officer 224911
Electronic Engineering Draftsperson 312411
Electronic Engineering Technician 312412
Electroplater 322112

Emergency Service Worker 441211
Engineering Patternmaker 323411
Engraver 323311
Entertainer or Variety Artist 211113
Environmental Health Officer 251311
Exercise Physiologist 234915
Film, Television, Radio and Stage Directors NEC 212399
Financial Institution Branch Manager 149914
Fire Fighter 441212
Fire Protection Equipment Technician 399918
First Aid Trainer 451815
Fisheries Officer 311311
Flight Attendant 451711
Floor Finisher 332111
Flying Instructor 231113
Food Technologist 234212
Funeral Director 451311
Funeral Workers NEC 451399
Futures Trader 222212
Gallery or Museum Technician 399311
Gas or Petroleum Operator 399212
Geophysicist 234412

Interior Decorator 399912
Jockey 452413
Judge 271211
Kennel Hand 361115
Leather Goods Maker 393112
Legal Executive 599112
Liaison Officer 224912
Licensed Club Manager 141411
Life Scientist (General) 234511
Life Scientists NEC 234599
Light Technician 399513
Magistrate 271212
Maintenance Planner 312911
Marine Surveyor 231215
Marine Transport Professionals NEC 231299
Market Research Analyst 225112
Master Fisher 231211
Mechanical Engineering Draftsperson 312511
Media Producer (excluding Video) 212112
Metal Casting Trades Worker 322114
Metal Polisher 322115
Metallurgist 234912

Microbiologist 234517
Migration Agent (Aus) 224913
Mothercraft Nurse 411412
Multimedia Designer 232413
Music Director 211212
Music Professionals NEC 211299
Musical Instrument Maker or Repairer 399515
Natural and Physical Science Professionals NEC 234999
Nurse Researcher 254212
Nurseryperson 362411
Operating Theatre Technician 311214
Optical Dispenser (Aus) / Dispensing Optician (NZ) 399913
Optical Mechanic 399914
Other Sports Official 452323
Painter (Visual Arts) 211411
Park Ranger 234314
Parole or Probation Officer 411714
Pathology Collector (Aus) / Phlebotomist (NZ) 311216
Petroleum Engineer 233612
Plastics Technician 399916
Plumbing Inspector 312115
Police Officer 441312
Policy Analyst 224412
Policy and Planning Manager 132411
Potter or ceramic artist 211412
Prison Officer 442111
Procurement Manager 133612

Production Manager (Manufacturing) 133512
Public Relations Manager 131114
Quarantine Officer 311313
Radio Journalist 212414
Radio Presenter 212113
Railway Station Manager 149412
Regional Education Manager 134412
Research and Development Manager 132511
Retail Buyer 639211
Retirement Village Manager 141912
Safety Inspector 312611
Sail Maker 393113
Sales Representative (Industrial Products) 225411
Sales Representative (Medical and Pharmaceutical Products) 225412
Saw Maker and Repairer 323315
School Laboratory Technician 311414
Screen Printer 392112
Sculpter 211413
Senior Non-commissioned Defence Force Member 139211

Shearer 361211
Shoemaker 393114
Singer 211214
Small Offset Printer 392312
Sports Administrator 139915
Sports Umpire 452322
Stock and Station Agent 611112
Surveying or Spatial Science Technician 312116
Technicians and Trades Workers NEC 399999
Telecommunications Cable Jointer 342412
Telecommunications Technician 342414
Television Equipment Operator 399517
Television Presenter 212114
Training and Development Professional 223311
Translator 272413
Travel Agency Manager 142116
Travel Attendants NEC 451799
Tribunal Member 271213
Turf Grower 121218
Vehicle Painter 324311
Vocational Education Teacher (Non-Trades) 242211
Vocational Education Teacher (Trades) 242211

What does this mean for you? 

If you’re considering a Subclass 457 visa, and have not yet lodged an application; your options will be reduced if your occupation is removed.

People already holding a Subclass 457 visa appear to be unaffected by the changes.

As there will no doubt be a lot more detail to be released from the Department, we will endeavour to update our blog as details come to hand.

For people who are existing clients of Emergico and undertaking a Subclass 457 visa process, we will keep you updated by email as soon as clarity is received.

Contact us on migrate@emergico.com if you would like to discuss a 457 visa.

 

 

Leanne Stevens

Leanne Stevens

CEO, Emergico // Registered Migration Agent (#1171279)

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