Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Bill 2025

The majority voted in favour of a motion to read the bill for a second time, which is parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the main idea of the bill.

What is the bill's main idea?

According to the explanatory memorandum, which a document prepared by the Government (the party that introduced the bill):

On 11 December 2023, the Australian Government released its Migration Strategy outlining reform directions for Australia’s skilled visa programs. The Migration Strategy is informed by extensive consultation with business, unions and other stakeholders, and more than 450 submissions received as part of the Review of the Migration System. The Migration Strategy includes reforms targeting temporary skilled migration to address skills needs and promote worker mobility.

Australia’s skilled migration framework includes mechanisms aimed at ensuring that holders of certain skilled temporary visas are offered remuneration and employment conditions that are at least equivalent to what is, or would be, provided to an Australian worker performing the same work at the same location.

The Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Bill 2025 (the Bill) contains amendments of the Migration Act 1958 (the Migration Act) to implement a commitment made by the Government in the Migration Strategy. The amendments in the Bill will allow for the implementation and maintenance of a public register of approved work sponsors. This register, which will be maintained on the website of the Department of Home Affairs, will promote transparency and worker mobility for temporary skilled migrant workers in Australia.

The amendments in the Bill will amend the Migration Act to provide for the publication of a register of approved standard business sponsors and accredited sponsors who have nominated skilled workers for entry to Australia including the name of the approved work sponsor, Australian Business Number and postcode, the number of individuals nominated under the sponsorship approval process and the occupations of the nominated workers.

This amendment aligns with the Government’s priorities and commitment to promoting Australia as a destination of choice for highly skilled migrants when competing on the world stage, while also ensuring skilled migrant workers are less vulnerable to exploitation.

The Bill provides enhanced protections and transparency through the establishment of a public register of approved work sponsors. The development of a public register that includes details of approved work sponsors, such as the name of the approved sponsor, number of sponsored workers and their occupations, will encourage transparency, monitoring and oversight. This will support temporary skilled migrant workers to find a new sponsor when exploring alternative employment opportunities, providing a resource to confirm whether a sponsoring employer is legitimate.