Australia's migration system is so broken that the government's proposed fix can address a wide range of issues while uniting often-opposing groups. The government is poised to unveil its migration strategy, which aims to lure skilled migrants to Australia while cracking down on non-genuine international students and migrant worker exploitation. Unions, universities and business groups have all welcomed aspects of the plan to be revealed on Monday. A new Skills in Demand visa has also been celebrated by Australian Council of Trade Unions assistant secretary Liam O'Brien, who said it would make it easier for temporary skilled migrants to leave exploitative situations and find jobs with better conditions and pay. "Migrant worker exploitation is rampant in this country, one of the key causes being visa conditions that effectively bond temporary migrant workers to their employer sponsor - meaning the employer controls your pay cheque and your passport," he said. "We commend the Albanese Government for putting a stop to this exploitative model." Mr O'Brien also says the employers have used a "skills shortage" to use temporary migration as a cheap source of Labor, but the new strategy would put an end to this practice. Even the Business Council of Australia (BCA), which usually disagrees with the unions, has welcomed the changes and specifically commended the benefits the plan would offer to long-term migration planning. "Australia's prosperity, our jobs, our living standards and the strength of our economy are all directly linked to a successful, efficient and well targeted migration program and these changes get the balance right," BCA chief executive Bran Black said. "Migration is not a substitute for investment in Australian jobs and skills but it is a key tool to fill skills shortages, bring in the best global talent and address the nation's demographic challenges." Tech Council of Australia CEO Kate Pounder said the government's proposed specialist skills pathway would reduce red tape and address critical shortages in the tech industry. "These changes will help Australia become a world-leader in cutting-edge technologies like quantum, clean energy, and AI," she said. "The tech experts that come to Australia thanks to these reforms will help train and upskill existing workers, which will not only benefit their careers, but the economy as a whole." Committee for Economic Development of Australia chief executive Melinda Cilento also welcomed the Skills in Demand visa and specialist skills pathway as a part of the solution for addressing long-term shortages in the care sectors. "Right now, it's clear the government's aged-care labour agreements aren't working. They are costly, onerous and proving hard to implement," she said. "Migration will need to play a role in addressing long-term skills shortages in the care sectors." The strategy's plan to bolster the integrity of international education has also been celebrated by Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson. "Measures to preserve and strengthen the integrity of our system and to streamline it, making it easier for students to navigate, are very welcome and we look forward to seeing further detail on the implementation of these actions," she said. Australian Associated Press
