Current visa 457 transition to permanent residence

The Queensland premier has unleashed an extraordinary attack on  Malcolm Turnbull , saying he’s a shallow thinker who doesn’t understand his job as prime minister. All we’ve seen lately is a fly-in, fly-out prime minister who is espousing thought bubbles without any deep policy conversation https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/apr/30/annastacia-palaszczuk-unleashes-on-pm-malcolm-turnbull-is-worse-than-tony-abbott

DIBP is under massive political pressure to come up with swift changes to partner visa (subclass 820/801, subclass 309/100), marriage visa (visa 300). It is expected that changes will be very sudden and allow for no grandfathering effects. Changes will be launched UNEXPECTEDLY the same as what has happened to visa 457. Visa processing will be split into two stages. One happens after another, i. e. the sponsor must lodge sponsorship application first and this application must be approved by DIBP before the visa application can be lodged. Stricter conditions may apply such as annual income, age, health, police check, etc. Processing time may be up to 4 years from the lodgement of sponsorship application. Fees will increase significantly.

Raul-  The proposed changes to the 457 to ENS pathway make absolutely no sense. The employer nomination scheme is the most successful visa program, as in most cases, the applicants are already working in the role and continue to work in the role and/or occupation after achieving Permanent Residency, thus filling skill shortages. The skilled program (189/190) in comparison does not have the same success, as many migrants cannot find employment in the occupation they have been nominated in, as they have never been tested in the Australian labour market. You then have the situation where highly qualified migrants take low skilled employment, as they have no other choice. This in my opinion does more damage for Australian job seekers, as competition for non or low skilled jobs increases. I  agree that rorting of the 457 program is a compliance issue which DIBP already have powers to address. The vast majority of business using the subclass 457 program us...

Australian Senator is concerned about Turnbull's irrational and unfair ban of permanent residency "I am particularly concerned that the biggest impact of the government's move is the unfair ban on permanent residency while, with a nod-and-wink, allowing some businesses to continue exploiting workers through constant temporary work visas" http://sarah-hanson-young.greensmps.org.au/articles/greens-inquiry-probe-governments-457-visa-changes

President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) Ged Kearney has resigned her position on the Government’s Ministerial Advisory Council for Skilled Migration (MASCM). Main reasons for her resignation:  • The Government’s replacement of the 457 visa system was not discussed with MACSM. • The new visa policy was announced with very little detail indicating policy making on the run and political point scoring rather than a considered effective approach  • The Government has done nothing to change the flawed visa labour market testing system nor has it protected jobs for many Australians worried about job security.

Turnbull's visa change is now amounting to a full scale policy scandal, Turnbull is accused of  using the cheap politics of racism and crass anti-migrant sentiment to appease the conservative rump of his own party.  Note that NO AUSTRALIAN has ever voted for the man called Turnbull. He staged a coup within his party and overthrew his own comrade Tony Abbott to seize the prime ministership. The way Turnbull sets rules, policies and the way he runs Australia prove that he cares a damn about his accountability to the public. With the visa change scandal, he claimed to save jobs for Australians. In fact, he saved only his own. http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/greens-in-bid-to-stymie-malcolm-turnbulls-visa-changes-20170423-gvqkir.html Senator Hanson-Young: "This inquiry will help to untangle some of the mess that was made when Malcolm Turnbull decided to use the cheap politics of racism and crass anti-migrant sentiment to appease the conser...

Mr Turnbull said the four-year visa system, which permits highly skilled migrants to apply for permanent residency at its conclusion, would be replaced in a bid to protect Australian jobs. The 95,000 skilled migrants currently in Australia on 457 visas would be unaffected and still be able for permanent residency at the end of the four years. “We will no longer allow 457 visas to be passports to jobs that could and should go to Australians,” Mr Turnbull said. Unlike the current visa arrangement, the replacement — a two year temporary visa specifically designed to recruit the “best and the brightest” in the national interest — will not allow permanent residency at its conclusion. However, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the 95,000 people already in the country on a 457 work permit would be unaffected by the change and permitted to apply for residency. “They will continue under the conditions of that visa,” Mr Dutton said. http://www.news.com.au/finance/work/what-yo...

Seeming that Turnbull and his party comrades are observing how much public support these proposed changes would bring to them amid political turmoils leading to the next federal election. They should note that MAJORITY OF AUSTRALIANS support skilled workers to become permanent residents. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/apr/25/skilled-migrants-residency-but-citizenship-hurdles-tony-abbott-guardian-essential-poll

Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Alex Hawke: "... There are pathways to permanent residency that have been attached to it [to recognise that] when people come and work for substantial periods of time they should be able to have a pathway to permanent residency..." http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-25/q&a:-citizenship-and-visa-changes-dominate-program/8467880

According to what announced, current 457 visa holders (18/4/2017) are not affected by the new rule. However, under new rule, from 3/2018, transition from 457 visa to PR has to comply with the long term list. That means 457 visa holders with visa granted from 3/2016 to 17/4/2017, whose occupations now fall I n the short term list, are not eligible to transition to PR. This new rule will see tens of thousands of current 457 visa holders affected and disadvantaged which is quite contrary to what has been announced that current 457 visa holders are not affected. It would be fair that ALL current 457 visa holders should enjoy grandfathering effect to transit to PR after 3/2018. This effect should be applied without any further caveats to current rules on their occupation, age, experience, etc 

DIBP reform effective from 18/4/2017 stated that from 3/2018 for ENS 186 visa, the long term list will now apply. That means for 457 visa holders with visas granted from 3/2016 to 17/4/2017 whose occupations fall into shorterm list, this cutoff date deprives them of their transition to PERMANENT RESIDENCE. According to DIBP published statistics, this number amounts to tens of thousands, whose 457 visas were current at the time Turnbull announced the reform. Did he say current 457 visa holders were not affected and their CONDITIONS still CONTINUED? Yes he did. Contrary to his words, a lot 457 visa holders CURRENT at the time he said were affected. DIBP reform/policy is therefore significantly RETROSPECTIVE and against grandfathering rule.