Migration Amendment (Temporary Sponsored Visas) Bill 2013

The majority voted in favour of a motion to read the Migration Amendment (Temporary Sponsored Visas) Bill 2013 for a third time.

This means that the bill has passed through the House of Representatives and can now be sent to the Senate for their consideration.

Debate in Parliament

While considering the bill in detail, the House of Representatives agreed to a government amendment that introduced new labour market testing requirements and legislatively established the Ministerial Advisory Council on Skilled Migration, which must have union representation. Liberal MP Scott Morrison argued that the amendment was designed to “choke the 457 scheme” and do “the bidding of the unions”.

Background to the Bill

The Migration Amendment (Temporary Sponsored Visas) Bill 2013 was introduced by Labor MP Brendan O'Connor to “enhance the government's ability to deter sponsor behaviour which is inconsistent with the policy intent of the subclass 457 visa program and other temporary employer sponsored visa programs”. At the time this bill was introduced, the 457 visa program was receiving extensive media attention with claims that it was being misused. A simple explanation of the 457 visa scheme is available on the Department of Immigration and Border Protection’s website.