The Australian government is set to undertake an evidence-based review of the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT).
The review was recommended by the recent Independent Review into Integrity in the Subclass 457 Programme and will consider a range of issues including the factors that should determine the settings, the appropriate base level, and the roles of indexation and regional concessions for the TSMIT.
The TSMIT defines the salary threshold for jobs that can be filled by a 457 temporary visa holder and is designed to protect Australian workers and ensure that visa holders are undertaking skilled employment.
The Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Peter Dutton said the review’s terms of reference were consistent with the Government’s commitment to ensuring the 457 programme acts as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, local workers and the protection of potentially vulnerable foreign workers in Australia.
The review will be carried out by John Azarias, a Senior Partner at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.
“As the chair of the independent panel which undertook the 457 Integrity Review in 2014, Mr Azarias brings extensive knowledge of the 457 programme to the conduct of this review,” Minister Dutton said.
The Government has brought forward the review as part of an agreement with the Opposition to ensure passage through Parliament of legislation to implement the landmark China-Australia Free Trade Agreement.
Mr Azarias will provide a report to Government at the end of April 2016.
As recommended by the 457 Integrity Review, the TSMIT will be retained at AUS$53,900 until the findings of the review are considered by Government.