There were several significant immigration events in March, in
particular the Federal government's response to the earlier
Independent 457 Integrity Report, Robust New Foundations. The
Senate's surprise establishment of a new 457 visa inquiry and
the Federal government's referral of permanent migration to the
Productivity Commission which has the potential for several far
reaching recommendations were also major announcements made through
the month.
The main message for business is that the 457 visa programme
remains in flux and the changes are likely to begin filtering
through over the course of the next 12 months. Business sponsors
should continue to pay attention to these changes and ensure that
any changes are recognised and appropriate systems adopted.
