CEOs, University Lecturers Among Those Now Able to Apply for Better Worker Visa
Arefined list of occupations eligible to apply for a skilled worker visa came into effect yesterday, after the Australian government made a number of concessions.
The changes will see people with some occupations such as chief executives or university lecturers now able to apply for a four-year temporary visa instead of a twoyear visa.
Some sectors had complained it would harm their industries.
Universities Australia chief executive Belinda Robinson said the “key issues” it had raised with the Government had been addressed.
“Research is a global enterprise,” she said.
“Just as Australian researchers look to go overseas at least for a period of time to further develop their own research capability and skills, we have to be able to do the same thing for researchers wanting to come to Australia.”
The Business Council of Australia also said the changes were a more sensible approach.
“They relate to highly specialised roles that bring expertise and global experience to Australia to benefit us all through skills and information transfer,” the council’s chief executive, Jennifer Westacott, said in a statement.
But Ms Westacott said the council was still worried about how companies would fill specialist roles in the finance and IT sectors.
The Australian Mines and Metals Association also had a mixed response to the revised lists, warning Australian jobs would still be lost.
In a statement, its chief executive Steve Knott said he was pleased the government had listened to industry concerns about the importance of skilled migration for chemical engineers, metallurgists, mining production managers and helicopter pilots.
“AMMA strongly lobbied the Government to ensure it understood the impact of changing 23 highpriority occupations, a number of which have been listened to,” Mr Knott said.