This bill did not become law and is no longer proceeding.
Immigration, border & security
Australia would create a new temporary skilled visa and put the specialist and core skills pay thresholds into the Migration ActThe main law the bill would amend to put pay thresholds, sponsorship rules and the sponsor register into legislation., while essential-skills thresholds would still be set under regulations or by ministerial decision.
Some skilled migrant pay floors were left in ministerial rulesNon-legislative settings made by the minister that the bill would replace with written thresholds in the Act., which exposed workers to exploitation and made it harder to stop undercutting Australian wages. The bill would legislate the specialist and core skills thresholds, index those thresholds each year, leave essential-skills thresholds to regulations or ministerial decision, and create a public sponsor registerThe public online list the bill would create to show approved sponsors, their ABN, postcode, sponsored worker numbers and occupations. to improve oversight and worker mobility.
After the March 2023 review of the migration systemThe independent review that helped shape the government's migration reforms and the bill's design. and the government’s December 2023 Migration StrategyThe government's December 2023 reform plan for migration, including the new visa settings that this bill was meant to support., Labor moved to replace visa settings that left skilled migrant pay floors in ministerial rulesNon-legislative settings made by the minister that the bill would replace with written thresholds in the Act. and offered limited public visibility of sponsors. The bill, introduced in July 2024, responded by putting the specialist and core skills income thresholds, annual wage indexationThe automatic yearly increase to the pay floors, set to happen on 1 July so the thresholds keep pace with wages. and a public sponsor registerThe public online list the bill would create to show approved sponsors, their ABN, postcode, sponsored worker numbers and occupations. into the Migration ActThe main law the bill would amend to put pay thresholds, sponsorship rules and the sponsor register into legislation. for the planned Skills in Demand visaThe planned new temporary skilled visa that would replace the Temporary Skill Shortage visa and use the new pay floors set out in this bill., while leaving essential-skills thresholds to regulations or ministerial decision. It stalled after passing the House and lapsed when Parliament ended in July 2025.
The main criticism was that the bill’s higher pay thresholds, tighter sponsorship rules and added compliance could make it harder for regional and small employers to hire needed migrant workers, especially in sectors with chronic shortages. That concern was raised most clearly by Coalition and crossbench speakers, but much of it was conditional rather than outright opposition, with many saying the bill needed scrutiny, flexibility and regional safeguards rather than rejecting its aims outright.
Andrew Giles MP introduced this bill. Speeches supporting it came from Labor, Liberal Party, Greens, some crossbench members.
Did it become law?
No
The bill did not complete passage through Parliament.
Final passage
Did not pass
1 recorded vote before the bill stopped proceeding
Time before failure
382 days
From introduction to the final recorded step before the bill stopped proceeding
Meaning
Australia would create a new temporary skilled visa and put the specialist and core skills pay thresholds into the Migration ActThe main law the bill would amend to put pay thresholds, sponsorship rules and the sponsor register into legislation., while essential-skills thresholds would still be set under regulations or by ministerial decision.
Employers sponsoring highly skilled specialists would generally need to offer at least $135,000 a year.
Employers filling national shortage jobs or trade-agreement occupations would generally need to offer at least $73,150 a year.
The legislated specialist and core skills thresholds would rise automatically on 1 July each year in line with average wages.
The Department of Home Affairs would publish an online register naming approved sponsors and showing their ABNThe business identifier that would be listed on the public sponsor register so people can identify the employer., postcode, sponsored worker numbers, and sponsored occupations.
This Bill will implement a commitment made by the Government in the Migration Strategy to introduce a new temporary skilled worker visa, the Skills in Demand visa, by legislating the income thresholds and indexation for the proposed streams of that proposed new visa.Migration Amendment (Strengthening Sponsorship and Nomination Processes) explanatory memorandum
New paragraph 140GB(2A)(a) provides the income threshold requirement for the purpose of paragraph 140GB(2)(c). If the applicant, were to be granted the visa, the estimated gross earnings of the applicant working in the occupation for each 12 month period for the period of the nomination would be at least $135,000.Migration Amendment (Strengthening Sponsorship and Nomination Processes) explanatory memorandum
a CSIT of $73,150 for persons that are nominated for occupations that are in national shortage or where Australia has committed to providing access to our labour market in relation to that occupation through international trade agreements;Migration Amendment (Strengthening Sponsorship and Nomination Processes) explanatory memorandum
provide the annual indexation of the income thresholds which would be implemented on 1 July each year. The indexation will reflect changes in the trend figure for Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings;Migration Amendment (Strengthening Sponsorship and Nomination Processes) explanatory memorandum
New section 140GE operates to provide for the publication of a register of approved standard business sponsors and accredited sponsors who have nominated skilled workers for entry into Australia, including the sponsor’s business name, postcode and Australian Business Number, the number of individuals nominated under the sponsorship approval process and the occupations of the nominated workers.Migration Amendment (Strengthening Sponsorship and Nomination Processes) explanatory memorandum
Context
After the March 2023 review of the migration systemThe independent review that helped shape the government's migration reforms and the bill's design. and the government’s December 2023 Migration StrategyThe government's December 2023 reform plan for migration, including the new visa settings that this bill was meant to support., Labor moved to replace visa settings that left skilled migrant pay floors in ministerial rulesNon-legislative settings made by the minister that the bill would replace with written thresholds in the Act. and offered limited public visibility of sponsors. The bill, introduced in July 2024, responded by putting the specialist and core skills income thresholds, annual wage indexationThe automatic yearly increase to the pay floors, set to happen on 1 July so the thresholds keep pace with wages. and a public sponsor registerThe public online list the bill would create to show approved sponsors, their ABN, postcode, sponsored worker numbers and occupations. into the Migration ActThe main law the bill would amend to put pay thresholds, sponsorship rules and the sponsor register into legislation. for the planned Skills in Demand visaThe planned new temporary skilled visa that would replace the Temporary Skill Shortage visa and use the new pay floors set out in this bill., while leaving essential-skills thresholds to regulations or ministerial decision. It stalled after passing the House and lapsed when Parliament ended in July 2025.
Review of the Migration SystemThe independent review that helped shape the government's migration reforms and the bill's design. is released
The Parkinson reviewThe independent review that helped shape the government's migration reforms and the bill's design. provided a formal basis for changing skilled migration settings before the government settled its new visa reform agenda.
Migration Amendment (Strengthening Sponsorship and Nomination Processes) explanatory memorandum ↗Government releases its Migration StrategyThe government's December 2023 reform plan for migration, including the new visa settings that this bill was meant to support.
The strategy committed to a new Skills in Demand visaThe planned new temporary skilled visa that would replace the Temporary Skill Shortage visa and use the new pay floors set out in this bill. and reforms to skilled migration rules aimed at skills needs, worker mobility and stronger protections.
Migration Amendment (Strengthening Sponsorship and Nomination Processes) explanatory memorandum ↗Bill introduced to legislate key pay thresholds and sponsor registerThe public online list the bill would create to show approved sponsors, their ABN, postcode, sponsored worker numbers and occupations.
The government introduced the bill to put the specialist and core skills income thresholds, annual 1 July indexationThe automatic yearly increase to the pay floors, set to happen on 1 July so the thresholds keep pace with wages. and a public register of approved sponsorsThe public online list the bill would create to show approved sponsors, their ABN, postcode, sponsored worker numbers and occupations. into the Migration ActThe main law the bill would amend to put pay thresholds, sponsorship rules and the sponsor register into legislation., while leaving essential-skills thresholds to regulations or ministerial decision.
Hansard ↗House passes the bill
The House completed debate and passed the bill, advancing the government's plan to replace the Temporary Skill Shortage visaThe existing employer-sponsored skilled visa that the government planned to replace with the Skills in Demand visa settings. with the Skills in Demand visaThe planned new temporary skilled visa that would replace the Temporary Skill Shortage visa and use the new pay floors set out in this bill. settings set out in legislation.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Bill reaches the Senate
The bill was introduced in the Senate, where debate began but no final passage followed before the Parliament ended.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Bill lapses at the end of Parliament
The bill fell away when Parliament ended, leaving the proposed sponsor registerThe public online list the bill would create to show approved sponsors, their ABN, postcode, sponsored worker numbers and occupations. and legislated specialist and core skills thresholds uncompleted.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Legislative route
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Referred to Committee (04/07/2024): Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Committee report (02/09/2024)
Referred to committee
APH bill page notesThe bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The chamber considered the bill in detail and dealt with amendments before the next stage.
Consideration in detail debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Reported from Federation Chamber
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Key criticism
The main criticism was that the bill’s higher pay thresholds, tighter sponsorship rules and added compliance could make it harder for regional and small employers to hire needed migrant workers, especially in sectors with chronic shortages. That concern was raised most clearly by Coalition and crossbench speakers, but much of it was conditional rather than outright opposition, with many saying the bill needed scrutiny, flexibility and regional safeguards rather than rejecting its aims outright.
Most criticism focused on implementation and regional fit, not the goal of reducing exploitation.
Extra bureaucracy for regional employers
Critics argued the bill adds compliance and administrative burden that could slow or block access to skilled migrants for regional employers, particularly in health, farming and construction where shortages are already acute.
One-size-fits-all settings may miss regional shortages
Several speakers said the bill as drafted may not reflect regional, seasonal and sector-specific labour needs, warning that national thresholds and settings could produce the wrong outcomes unless the occupation settings and allocations stay flexible.
Key design choices may leave some needed workers out
Some supporters said the bill’s pathway design still has gaps, especially where construction workers are excluded from the specialist skills stream or where settings may not work for SMEs that rely on migrant labour.
Further sources
Votes
Other recorded votes grouped by chamber. Expand a vote to see the party breakdown.
House
Defeated 62 to 78. Support came from Liberal Party, Nationals, Centre Alliance, and Katter's Australian Party. Opposition came from Labor and Greens. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
The motion was defeated, so the Federation Chamber amendments were not accepted and the bill proceeded without that change.
This list includes amendment votes, procedural votes and votes on the bill itself.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Andrew Giles supports the bill, saying it is an important step in the Albanese Labor government's migration strategyThe government's December 2023 reform plan for migration, including the new visa settings that this bill was meant to support. because it sets clearer income thresholds, annual indexationThe automatic yearly increase to the pay floors, set to happen on 1 July so the thresholds keep pace with wages., and a public register of sponsors to better target skills and curb exploitation.
Read in Hansard ↗Webster opposes the bill because she says its extra compliance and bureaucracy will make it harder for regional employers to bring in the skilled migrants they need, especially in health, farming and construction.
Read in Hansard ↗Spender says she supports the bill and wants it to pass, because she thinks it makes the migration system faster, simpler and better suited to skilled workers.
Read in Hansard ↗Dai Le broadly supports the bill and says she welcomes the reforms to protect vulnerable migrant workers, but she wants the government to do more consultation and to better balance those protections with the needs of SMEs that rely on skilled migrant labour.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
6 speakers · 6 support
“This Bill is a necessary, important step to introduce a better targeted, temporary skilled work visa as part of the Albanese Labor Government's Migration Strategy.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This bill implements key commitments from the migration strategy. It amends the Migration Act 1958 to establish a legislative framework and a new approach to temporary skill migration in Australia in the form of a new skills in demand visa, which targets the skills Australia needs and promotes greater worker mobility. This is an important step in delivering a better-planned migration system, meeting Australia's skills needs and laying a strong foundation for the future. The legislation creates the income thresholds in indexation for the proposed streams of that visa. As well as streamlining labour market testing requirements. The bill will help secure the integrity of the skilled migration program by setting minimum income thresholds for temporary skilled migrants in the act and by legislating annual indexation of these income thresholds. It establishes a legislative basis to create a public register of approved sponsors, and provides that labour market testing be completed within six months—increased from four months—prior to the sponsor of a skilled migrant worker lodging a nomination.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This bill is focused on responsibly continuing Australia's commitment to migration, our multicultural community and our worldwide connections. It will develop and maintain a more prosperous, more fair and more secure labour market in Australia. It will work for businesses by securing the workers they need when they need them and promoting business growth and prosperity. Crucially it will benefit workers by securing protections for wages and conditions through indexed salary thresholds. This bill will ensure sustainable migration levels and ensure we get the skills that are in demand to boost productivity. Labor's plan for migration sets us up for the future, and I commend this bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The bill legislates the indexation of the minimum income thresholds for migrants in the government's new skills in demand visa in line with the wages of local workers. Again that is ensuring that equity in wages will remain into the future regardless of where you've come from and why you're here.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This bill is a necessary, important step to introduce a better targeted, temporary skilled work visa as part of the Albanese Labor government's Migration Strategy.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The bill delivers on the government's commitment to introduce a new temporary skilled worker visa to address critical skill shortages and better align the immigration system to the country's workforce needs. The bill is another important milestone in the government's reform agenda in migration policy, and I commend the bill to the chamber.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
6 speakers · 4 support · 1 oppose · 1 mixed
“I urge the government to reconsider the provisions of this bill and to work with regional communities to develop policies that support their growth and development. After all, we've seen this movie before. Labor comes in with rushed immigration legislation, leaving loopholes that need to be fixed later on. Our regional communities deserve better resources and better outcomes.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This bill is important. The three proposed income thresholds will replace the current situation. The minimum income thresholds are the specialist skills income threshold, the core skills income threshold and the essential skills income threshold, which I appreciate is continuing to be developed by the sitting government. The bill proposes that the amounts for the SSIT and CSIT will be indexed each year on 1 July. That's fair enough. Submissions have been put forward to the Senate committee. They raised the issue of wage disparity between visa holders being paid the SSIT and the CSIT, which could cause wages disparity to an Australian worker performing an Australian role. We don't want that; of course we don't.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Then, if we look at that, it includes, for example, a register of approved work sponsors. While we on our side generally support the policy intent of the bill, we certainly need to close the gap. From our immigrants, we need to build the numbers of these skilled workers so that we have a lot more. But there are a number of concerns, and I note, while we are speaking, that the bill has been considered by a Senate committee and there is a Senate committee report.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“We in the coalition are happy to see this bill progress. There's a Senate committee that we want to reflect these submissions through et cetera but we're here to work with the government in constructive ways to address the challenges of the skills crisis, and a more robust framework for the skilled migration scheme will do so.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“In summary, the opposition will allow this bill through the House. We will wait for the Senate inquiry to report. We will look at its recommendations and, in particular, some of those key areas that I have outlined. Then it's highly likely we'll be seeking to put amendments forward to this bill to ensure that its passage leads to the right outcomes—that is, making sure that we build a better Australia, not a big Australia, which is the Albanese Labor government approach.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Having that flexibility is important. We need to continue to look to those differences around technologies, around regional areas, and around farms and construction, in particular, given the shortages. So it's an important step that we're taking, but I hope we can always look to have that flexibility, for the needs of local areas and unique technologies.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
1 speaker · 1 support
“However, there are some aspects of the bill that remain unclear, and we do think more needs to be done to protect people who come to Australia to contribute to the community. We support the passage of this bill in the House and reserve our Senate position, based on some of the matters that I'll outline here and that will be further pursued in the Senate.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
2 speakers · 1 support · 1 mixed
“While I support this bill, it is clear that the carve-out of construction workers from the specialist skills pathway is unjustified. I urge the government to remove the carve-out of tradies from this visa stream and allow construction workers the same access to this new fast-tracked visa that every other occupation has. If the government is not willing to do this, I urge the government to ensure that tradies across the spectrum are given access to the other skills pathways so that we can get the tradespeople we desperately need into the country and at the speed at which we need them.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Overall, I welcome the reform of the migration system to strengthen the sponsorship and nomination process and to more greatly protect vulnerable migrant workers. However, I ask the government to ensure that the needs of businesses, particularly SMEs, are given equal consideration, as they are the backbone of our economy.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Referred to Federation Chamber
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
House · Consideration in detail debate
Consideration in detail
The chamber considered the bill in detail and dealt with amendments before the next stage.
House · Reported from Federation Chamber
Reported from Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Senate · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Senate · Lapsed at end of Parliament
Lapsed at end of Parliament
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Committee report (02/09/2024)
Referred to committee
Referred to Committee (4 July 2024): Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Committee report (2 Sept 2024)
APH bill page notes
