Employers forced to wait 12 months for overseas nurses, teachers
Business leaders hope the current visa settings will be in place for 'a very short time', given the visa decision wait time blow out.
The government has introduced a directive in July that prioritises skilled visa applications from migrant workers already in Australia over offshore applicants, leading to lengthy waiting periods for overseas nurses and teachers. Business leaders, such as Jamie Lingham from Absolute Immigration Group, have criticised the measure as a blunt tool, noting that marketing managers can be prioritised over nurses in the system.
The changes have resulted in delays ranging from a few weeks to nearly a year, according to Australian Industry Group CEO Innes Willox. Business groups have expressed concern that the longer processing times may harm long-term development and living standards. Immigration Minister Tony Burke is under pressure to reduce migration and is expected to announce a more comprehensive overhaul of the system, which includes a crackdown on temporary visas to lower Net Overseas Migration (NOM) from 300,000 to 225,000 by 2028.
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