Australias new government to prioritize backlog

To address a skilled worker shortage, Australia's immigration minister has directed the Department of Home Affairs to expedite visa applications.

Andrew Giles, the incoming government's minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services, and Multicultural Affairs, stated on Wednesday that clearing a backlog of visa applications is a top priority.

"The community and the past administration have been raising the unusual delay in the processing of visa applications for many years," he told the Nine Entertainment publications.

"The processing of outstanding visa applications is a top priority for the Australian government. I've expressed my concerns about the present condition of visa processing to the Department of Home Affairs, and we're dedicated to getting visa applications handled as quickly as possible."

The previous administration did not release information on the amount of skilled worker visa applications.

However, from a high of 195,000 in 2014 to 96,000 in 2022, the total number of skilled temporary visa holders in Australia has decreased.

Employers are dealing with "prolonged" processing timeframes for skilled migrants, according to Andrew McKellar, CEO of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI).

"To cut down on long visa processing periods, more resources are needed. When so many firms are left without workers and hence unable to stay open, the present delays are just unacceptable "he stated

"We need to expand employer-sponsored migration to all skilled vocations to make the skilled migration system more accessible and accountable."