Joint media release with the Hon Andrew Giles MP
The Albanese Government will increase the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) from $53,900 to $70,000 from July 1.
Frozen since 2013, around 90% of all full-time jobs in Australia are now paid more than the current TSMIT, undermining Australia’s skilled migration system.
The new $70,000 income threshold is approximately where the TSMIT should have been if it had been properly indexed over the previous 10 years.
This is the Government’s first action in response to the independent Review of the Migration System led by Dr Martin Parkinson, which found that Australia’s migration system is broken.
The Albanese Government is also announcing that by the end of 2023, Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) short stream visa holders will have a pathway to permanent residency within our existing capped permanent program.
This will provide employers and migrants with more certainty, and will help increase the skill level in our permanent skilled program.
Together, these two measures announced today fulfil important election commitments to increase the TSMIT and expand pathways to permanent residence.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security, Clare O’Neil
This is the first increase to the TSMIT in a decade. It is a down payment on the type of migration system the Albanese Government wants to build.
Our migration success story is rooted in permanency and citizenship. Giving people the chance to get established in their community, educate their kids, and become Australian.”
We are leaving behind the unplanned, unstrategic, temporary migration program we are currently encumbered with thanks to the previous government.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, Andrew Giles
The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold was frozen for a decade by the former Liberal Government, including the six years where Peter Dutton was Minister. This is not fair for migrant workers and it is not fair for Australian workers.
Providing pathways to permanent residency for workers on Temporary Skill Shortage visas is another step towards ending the ‘permanently temporary’ limbo that formed a key part of the decade of mismanagement under the former Liberal government.
