Cafe owner battles high sponsorship costs as government vows to cut migration

A small cafe in Balingup, Western Australia is struggling to keep a valued employee, Penny Hung, who is a Taiwanese traveller, amid high costs of sponsoring her. The cafe owner, Brian Foster, explains that the process is prohibitively expensive due to the high salary thresholds set by the Australian government. Hung, who has been working in the cafe for several years, is an integral part of the business and the town of Balingup, which has a population of about 560 people.

Foster has begun the process of applying to sponsor Hung, but the costs and minimum salary rates have made it challenging for a small business like his. The Australian government is reportedly planning to reduce net overseas migration, shifting its focus towards onshore visa applicants, particularly in healthcare, education, and construction sectors.

This move is expected to prioritize processing applications for onshore applicants, including those in regional areas. However, the impact on visa processing times remains uncertain.