Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced via a Facebook video last week that his government would be abolishing the 457 visa scheme. The previous visa scheme will be replaced by a new Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa. The new visas will require workers from overseas to have previous work experience, a police check, a better proficiency of the English language and labour market testing.
It is hoped the changes will allow Australians to receive first priority for jobs over workers from overseas. “We’ll no longer allow 457 visas to be passports to jobs that could and should go to Australians,” Mr Turnbull said in the video. “However, it is important businesses still get access to the skills they need to grow and invest, so the 457 visa will be replaced by a new temporary visa to recruit the best and the brightest in the national interest.”
The new TSS visa will be divided into two types, a two-year visa and a four-year visa. The requirements for the two-year visa will be less than that of the four-year visa. However only those with the four-year visa can apply for permanent residency after three years, which was changed from two years under the previous laws.
