Photo caption: Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton is calling on the Labor Government to prioritise onshore skilled regional visa applications.
Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton is today calling on the Labor Government to prioritise onshore skilled regional visa applications, to provide certainty to local families and help keep skilled migrants in our regional areas.
Late last month, a Ministerial Direction came into effect which prioritises offshore permanent and provisional visa applications.
Mr Coulton said while this will help small businesses recruit overseas workers, it has significantly increased the processing time for onshore applicants who are already living in and contributing to regional Australia.
“Since Ministerial Direction No.100 came into effect at the end of October, I’ve noticed a significant rise in the number of 887 and 491 visa applicants contacting my office about the delays in processing times,” Mr Coulton said.
“Many of these people have been waiting 24 months or longer for their visas to be processed, which is understandably causing a great deal of stress and uncertainty.
“These are people who are already living and working in towns across the Parkes electorate, who are keen to stay and settle down in our beautiful part of the world.
“However, while waiting for their visas to be approved, these people cannot advance their careers or work in their expert field. They can’t buy a house or properly establish roots because they are living in limbo.
“Sadly, people are now leaving our regional areas and moving to the city or even back to their home countries because they can’t get visas.”
Mr Coulton said the biggest issue facing the Parkes electorate is workforce shortages, and delaying onshore visa applications will only exacerbate the issue.
“It’s so important that we retain the services of people who are actively contributing to our rural and regional towns,” Mr Coulton said.
“Many of the people who have contacted me have been working in critical sectors like health and aged care, and we can’t afford to lose them. Others are highly skilled in professions where we have a shortage, but instead are working in retail or hospitality because they can’t be considered for employment in their chosen field until they’ve received permanent residency.
“For example, a couple in Dubbo is currently working at Fletcher International Exports, however the husband is a mechanical engineer and his wife is an audiologist.
“One man has an offer to be a TAFE teacher but he’s unable to accept it until he has permanent residency, while another is a qualified electrotechnician but he can’t get an apprenticeship in Australia until he is a permanent resident.
“There are so many others with similar stories, and almost all of them are sadly suffering from depression or poor mental health as a result of the uncertainty they’re experiencing.
“This is just not good enough. I’m calling for the Minister to prioritise these onshore skilled regional visa applicants so that they can settle down and continue their valuable contribution to our regional towns.”
Mr Coulton has written to Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Andrew Giles requesting the removal of regional visas from the list of skilled visas that are currently subject to Ministerial Direction No. 100, however he is yet to receive a response.
Background:
- A Subclass 887 Skilled Regional visa is for people who have lived and worked in specified areas of regional Australia on a previous, eligible visa. For more information about the 887 visa, visit: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skilled-regional-887
- A Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa is for skilled people nominated by a state or territory government to live and work in regional Australia. For more information about the 91 visa, visit: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skilled-work-regional-provisional-491
- For more information about Ministerial Direction No.100, visit: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/news-media/archive/article?itemId=973
