Misuse and harm
Critics said publishing sponsor details could let people target employers and workers in harmful ways.
Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation)
Current status
This bill became law on Apr 8th, 2026.
Policy area
Immigration, border & security
What does this bill do?
The bill would allow a public online list of approved work sponsors.
Why was it introduced?
Migrant workers lacked an easy way to check whether sponsors were legitimate or to find a new approved sponsor, leaving them more exposed to exploitation. The bill lets the government create a public online register of approved work sponsors to improve transparency, oversight and worker mobility in the skilled visa system.
Broader context
The government had already committed in its 2023 Migration Strategy to make approved work sponsors visible as part of skilled visa reform. Pressure remained because migrant workers still had no simple way to check if a sponsor was genuine or to find another approved employer, so this bill created the legal basis for a public online register of approved sponsors.
Key criticism
The main concern was that putting sponsor details on a public register could expose employers and workers to misuse, harassment, or other unfair risks, while leaving too much of the design to later rules. Most criticism came from coalition speakers, while others backed the bill as a transparency measure to help protect migrant workers.
Who supported it?
The Labor government introduced this bill. In the recorded House second-reading vote, support came from Labor, Centre Alliance, Greens, some crossbench members; opposition came from Liberal, LNP of Queensland, Nationals, some crossbench members.
Introduced in House 06 Nov 2025
Passed House 27 Nov 2025
Passed Senate 01 Apr 2026
Became law 08 Apr 2026
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 08 Apr 2026
Final passage
No counted final vote
1 recorded vote on the bill was found earlier in passage, but the final chamber agreement was not a counted division.
Passage speed
146 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
What does this bill do?
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The bill would allow a public online list of approved work sponsors. These are employers allowed to sponsor skilled workers to come to Australia for jobs.
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The list could show the sponsor’s name, business number, postcode, how many skilled workers they have sponsored, and the types of jobs those workers were brought in for.
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The register is meant to help temporary skilled migrant workers find another approved employer and check whether a sponsor is genuine. It is also meant to make the system more visible and help reduce worker exploitation.
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The bill limits what can be published. The rules cannot allow personal identifiers to be put on the register, and the department would still have to follow privacy law when releasing information.
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The changes would start on a day set later, or automatically the day after six months if no earlier start day is set. This is to allow time to make the rules, consult people affected, and build the online register.
Show source excerpts
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The Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Bill 2025 (the Bill) contains amendments of the Migration Act 1958 (the Migration Act) to implement a commitment made by the Government in the Migration Strategy. The amendments in the Bill will allow for the implementation and maintenance of a public register of approved work sponsors. This register, which will be maintained on the website of the Department of Home Affairs, will promote transparency and worker mobility for temporary skilled migrant workers in Australia.
Explanatory memorandum -
New section 140GD operates to enable the development, publication and maintenance 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 ABN, the number of individuals nominated under the sponsorship approval process and the occupations of the nominated workers.
Explanatory memorandum -
The establishment of a public register of approved work sponsors will provide protections and oversight mechanisms to support the effective management and integrity of Australia’s skilled visa system. By including the name of the approved sponsor, number of sponsored workers and their occupations, it is intended that this will encourage transparency, monitoring and oversight. The purpose of the public register is to help temporary skilled migrant workers find a new sponsor and provide a public resource they can check to ensure that a sponsoring employer is legitimate.
Explanatory memorandum -
New subsection 140GD(3) provides that the regulations must not prescribe information that is a personal identifier. The expression personal identifier has the meaning given by section 5A of the Migration Act. The purpose of this subsection is to ensure that the Migration Regulations may not be amended to authorise the publication of any personal identifiers as part of the information to be included on the register. This limitation is considered to be reasonable and appropriate, ensuring the Department is not authorised to disclose personal identifiers of approved work sponsors under section 140GD.
Explanatory memorandum -
Subsection 2(1) provides for the whole of the Amendment Act to commence on a single day to be fixed by Proclamation. If the provisions do not commence within the period of six months beginning on the day the Amendment Act receives the Royal Assent, the table under subsection 2(1) provides for commencement on the day after the end of that period. This provides for commencement of the Amendment Act to align with the development and making of regulations for the purposes of the amendments of the Migration Act 1958 by the Amendment Act; associated stakeholder engagement; and the development and implementation of functionality on the Department’s website to support the register of approved work sponsors.
Explanatory memorandum
Context
Broader context for this bill
The government had already committed in its 2023 Migration Strategy to make approved work sponsors visible as part of skilled visa reform. Pressure remained because migrant workers still had no simple way to check if a sponsor was genuine or to find another approved employer, so this bill created the legal basis for a public online register of approved sponsors.
- 11 Dec 2023
Migration Strategy promises a public sponsor register
The strategy set out the plan to make approved work sponsors publicly visible as part of wider skilled visa reform.
Explanatory memorandum ↗ - 06 Nov 2025
Bill introduced to list approved work sponsors online
It aimed to let skilled migrants check whether an employer could legally sponsor them and help them find another approved sponsor.
Parliament of Australia ↗ - 11 Dec 2025
Abusive employers face new restrictions while register bill advances
Separate regulations added prohibited-employer rules, reinforcing the push to make risky sponsors easier to spot.
Federal Register of Legislation ↗ - 01 Apr 2026
Senate passes sponsor register bill through Parliament
The bill cleared its final parliamentary stage, completing its passage through Parliament.
Parliamentary timeline ↗
Legislative route
How did it move through Parliament?
House Senate
Introduced 06 Nov 2025
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
Second reading opened 06 Nov 2025
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Second reading debate 26 Nov 2025
Members debated the bill in principle before the chamber decided whether to keep considering it.
Second reading debate 27 Nov 2025
Members debated the bill in principle before the chamber decided whether to keep considering it.
House second reading agreed Aye 97 No 37 27 Nov 2025
Recorded vote: 97 to 37.
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
House third reading agreed 27 Nov 2025
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Introduced 27 Nov 2025
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
Second reading opened 27 Nov 2025
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Senate second reading agreed 01 Apr 2026
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
Senate third reading agreed 01 Apr 2026
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Key criticism
The main case against this bill
The main concern was that putting sponsor details on a public register could expose employers and workers to misuse, harassment, or other unfair risks, while leaving too much of the design to later rules. Most criticism came from coalition speakers, while others backed the bill as a transparency measure to help protect migrant workers.
Support was still broad. Most objections were about privacy, possible misuse, and how the register would be designed, not about the aim of reducing exploitation.
Too much left to rules
Critics said the bill leaves too much to later rules, so it is not clear enough how the register would operate or what its limits would be.
Register may not be needed
Critics said the register may not be needed because existing measures already deal with migrant worker exploitation.
Further sources
Votes
Recorded votes
How the bill itself passed
The bill passed both chambers on the voices. The counted divisions below were about amendments or procedure, not final passage.
Passed House passed the bill
House agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed
House passed the bill
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Passed Senate passed the bill
Senate agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed
Senate passed the bill
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Carried House cleared second reading
Passed 97 to 37. Support came from Labor, Centre Alliance, and Greens. Opposition came from Liberal, LNP of Queensland, and Nationals. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
Carried
House cleared second reading
Party Aye / No
Labor 88 / 0
Liberal 0 / 14
LNP of Queensland 0 / 14
Nationals 0 / 8
Independent 7 / 1
Centre Alliance 1 / 0
Greens 1 / 0
These are votes on the bill itself rather than amendment votes.
Parliamentary debate
Who spoke, and what they said
Start here — lead voices
Sponsor speech Supports
Tony Burke
Burke introduces the bill as part of the government's migration strategy, saying it will create a public register of approved work sponsors to improve transparency, strengthen protections for migrant workers, and help prevent exploitation and misuse of the visa system.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead opposing voice Opposes
Michael McCormack
McCormack says migrant workers should be protected and supports stronger integrity in the skilled visa program, but argues this bill is flawed because it exposes employers to unjustified risk, leaves too much to regulation and could be misused.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead voice Supports
Julian Hill
Julian Hill strongly supports the bill, arguing it is an important next step in the government's migration reform agenda to combat the exploitation of migrant workers and protect wages.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead voice Supports
Alice Jordan-Baird
Alice Jordan-Baird clearly supports the bill, arguing it will help protect temporary migrant workers from exploitation by creating a public register of approved sponsors and making it easier for workers to identify legitimate employers and change sponsors.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
Labor
13 speakers · 13 support
Labor
13 speakers · 13 support
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Hill ★ Julian Hill strongly supports the bill, arguing it is an important next step in the government's migration reform agenda to combat the exploitation of migrant workers and protect wages.
“This bill is another key step to strengthen protection for migrant workers that helps all Australians. The bill seeks to enhance protections by introducing a public register of approved work sponsors. It implements a commitment that the government made in the migration strategy.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Jordan-Baird ★ Alice Jordan-Baird clearly supports the bill, arguing it will help protect temporary migrant workers from exploitation by creating a public register of approved sponsors and making it easier for workers to identify legitimate employers and change sponsors.
“Ms JORDAN-BAIRD (Gorton) (18:20): I rise to speak in support of the Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Bill 2025, put forward by the Minister for Home Affairs, and I commend him for doing so. I'm not sure about the member for New England's frankly confusing and somewhat offensive comments before me. He, like his party, wants to continue creating friction and heat in multicultural communities across our nation. But I am honoured to follow my friend the amazing member for Barton and commend her for her dedication to protecting the rights of migrants through her work as an employment lawyer and every day in her role in this parliament.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Neumann Neumann supports the bill, arguing that migrant worker exploitation is widespread, harms both migrants and Australian workers, and reflects years of coalition inaction.
“What this bill does is establish a legislative framework for a public register of approved work sponsors to be published and maintained on the Department of Home Affairs's website. Why is this necessary? To make sure we have better targeted temporary skilled work visa programs. It's important for transparency and oversight, for people to make a choice and for the public to understand who's a good employer and who's a bad employer. It might change people's behaviour. It might make a bad employer think about becoming a good employer from time to time, whether it's on a farm or in a pub, whether it's in a hospital or, can I say, in retail. So how about the Liberal and National parties for once support the business community in the way they voted in this chamber?”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Campbell Julie-Ann Campbell supports the bill, arguing it will combat exploitation of temporary skilled migrant workers by creating a public register of approved sponsors and improving transparency, accountability and worker protection.
“The Albanese Labor government firmly believes that every migrant has the right to live safely and with a sense of security. It is our responsibility to uphold those rights, and this bill helps us to do that. We are that migration success story, but what we have seen of late, in that rich tapestry of migration that makes us stronger as a country, is people pulling at the threads of it, and we must always stand against that. This bill makes sure that migrant workers have protection and that we have their backs. (Time expired)”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Ambihaipahar Ash Ambihaipahar strongly supports the bill, arguing that a public register of approved sponsors will improve transparency, protect temporary skilled migrant workers from exploitation, and support honest employers.
“This bill is a pragmatic, responsible and much-needed measure. It enhances protections for temporary skilled migrant workers, it promotes transparency, it strengthens system integrity, and it supports the many employers who do the right thing. As a member of this parliament, as someone who has worked in employment law and as someone who represents one of the most diverse electorates in the country, I know how important this reform is. I know how much it matters to local families, to new arrivals, to workers who want a fair chance and to employers who want a trusted system.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Holzberger Holzberger supports the bill, arguing it will help protect migrant workers from exploitation by creating a register of accredited sponsoring employers and strengthening accountability in the migration system.
“I rise in support of the Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Bill 2025. I am just looking around the chamber. I am not sure that anybody who is here this morning had the absolute experience of sitting through the member for New England's speech on this bill last night. Even people who have been here for a long time, who are used to the long rollicking performances that the member gives, may have been a little bit stunned by some of the things which he mentioned. Apart from the fact that it could be characterised as an impassioned speech against multiculturalism, it managed to somehow drift from the Inca empire to calling Australian workers 'lazy'. But I think, fundamentally, he missed completely the point of this bill, which is: it is not about saying which employers are good or bad but about saying whether or not an employer is accredited to be a sponsor for a skilled visa. Hopefully, that might allay some of the concerns that the opposition has about this bill. I would urge them to reconsider their opposition to this bill and support it.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Zappia Tony Zappia supports the bill, arguing it addresses serious exploitation of vulnerable migrant workers by creating an approved sponsor register and strengthening transparency, accountability and protections.
“I speak in support of the Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Bill 2025.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Georganas Steve Georganas strongly supports the bill, arguing that migrant workers are vital to Australia but must be protected from exploitation, underpayment and abuse.
“I'm very pleased to support the Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Bill 2025. I support this bill, as all of us on this side of the House do, for many reasons.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Stanley Anne Stanley supports the bill, arguing it will strengthen the integrity of the temporary skilled migration system by creating a public register of approved sponsors and expanding penalties and enforcement powers to combat exploitation of migrant workers.
“I commend the bill to the House.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Thistlethwaite Thistlethwaite supports the bill as part of the government's migration reform agenda, arguing it will combat migrant exploitation by creating a public register of approved work sponsors and strengthening integrity in the temporary skilled visa system.
“Australia is a great country. We must never take our way of life for granted. It must be cherished, valued and nurtured, and this bill is an important step towards achieving this government's aim of a coherent migration strategy that delivers better living standards for all Australians.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Roberts Tracey Roberts strongly supports the bill, arguing it will protect migrant workers from exploitation by creating a public register of approved work sponsors and improving transparency, accountability, and integrity in the temporary skilled visa system.
“The Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Bill 2025 marks a significant and necessary advancement in strengthening our temporary skilled work visa program whilst protecting migrant workers who contribute so much to our nation. I am firmly in support of this bill and the progressive reforms it brings under the Albanese Labor government's migration strategy.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Gallagher Senator Gallagher says the bill creates a public register of approved work sponsors under the Migration Act 1958 to improve transparency, oversight and accountability in the temporary skilled visa program.
“I commend this Bill to the chamber.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Burke ★ Burke introduces the bill as part of the government's migration strategy, saying it will create a public register of approved work sponsors to improve transparency, strengthen protections for migrant workers, and help prevent exploitation and misuse of the visa system.
“I commend this bill to the chamber.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Coalition
4 speakers · 4 oppose
Coalition
4 speakers · 4 oppose
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McCormack ★ McCormack says migrant workers should be protected and supports stronger integrity in the skilled visa program, but argues this bill is flawed because it exposes employers to unjustified risk, leaves too much to regulation and could be misused.
“The publication of basic sponsor information could be seen as a proportionate step, but the bill, unfortunately, gives rise to too many potential problems and also leaves the scope of data of any exemptions to regulations. That's what the coalition is concerned about, and that's why the coalition is not supporting this bill. We need to establish clear criteria and review mechanisms to prevent what would be arbitrary use of power—we should. But there are so many potential risks to businesses which rely on migrant workers, particularly in regional areas, and it's regional areas where many of these workers are being engaged. As I said earlier in my remarks, it's regional areas which welcome these people, which need these people and which, by and large—the honest employers, those good farmers, those well-meaning communities—do the right thing by these workers.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Birrell Sam Birrell argues the bill is unnecessary and overreaching because existing measures already combat migrant worker exploitation, while the new register would unfairly expose compliant employers and risk harassment of regional businesses.
“I don't think this bill helps that. I think this bill creates division. I think there are already some great things in place to assist the continuing combating of migrant exploitation. If there are serious proposals that can be put forward to further address that problem, I think that people on this side of the House would be very interested in working together with the government on it. But I don't think this is serious. I think it's a half-baked solution that doesn't address the problem, and it will lead to further division and harassment by some unions of regional businesses. Therefore, I won't be supporting the bill.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Webster Anne Webster says the coalition opposes the bill because it has not been justified, could expose compliant employers through public disclosure requirements, and should be replaced with stronger enforcement powers and whistleblower protections to address migrant exploitation.
“If the government is serious about protecting migrant workers, it should focus on delivering the stronger enforcement powers and whistleblower protections it has promised rather than imposing unnecessary and unproven public reporting requirements. For these reasons, the coalition opposes this bill.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Hawke Hawke says the coalition shares the goal of preventing migrant exploitation but argues the bill is unnecessary and badly designed, particularly because publication powers could expose employers and workers to misuse.
“There are serious flaws in this legislation, and, accordingly, the coalition will vote against the Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Bill 2025.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
One Nation
1 speaker · 1 mixed
One Nation
1 speaker · 1 mixed
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Joyce Joyce says migrant exploitation and organised crime should be tackled, but argues this bill as drafted casts too wide a net, threatens ordinary rights and misses more obvious criminal conduct.
“On this one here, the balance is not quite right. I believe that, if there were further work done on this, it would have the capacity to get through. I think on some issues it just ignores other problems that are screaming at you in your face. Other people know about them or talk about them, but no-one wants to do anything about them.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
Full record
- Act title
- Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Act 2026
- Act number
- Act No. 39, 2026
- Became law
- 08 Apr 2026
- Takes effect
- Introduction to passage
- 146 calendar days -- Introduced on 06 Nov 2025 and passed both Houses on 01 Apr 2026.
- Introduction to assent
- 153 calendar days -- Royal assent followed on 08 Apr 2026.
- Recorded divisions found
- 1 -- Recorded divisions were found in House of Representatives.
- Second reading chambers captured
- House of Representatives, Senate
- Same-day passage through both Houses
- No -- The bill cleared the House on 27 Nov 2025 and the Senate on 01 Apr 2026.
- 06 Nov 2025
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.
- 06 Nov 2025
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.
- 26 Nov 2025
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
Members debated the bill in principle before the chamber decided whether to keep considering it.
- 27 Nov 2025
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
Members debated the bill in principle before the chamber decided whether to keep considering it.
- 27 Nov 2025
House · Second reading agreed to
Recorded vote: 97 to 37.
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
- 27 Nov 2025
House · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
- 27 Nov 2025
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.
- 27 Nov 2025
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.
- 01 Apr 2026
Senate · 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.
- 01 Apr 2026
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.