Although Australia would have to work hard to ensure it can compete with other countries such as Canada and the UK in the international market once again, its recently proposed strategies will help the nation progress towards that direction. Another important measure is to ensure the reduction in visa for business in Australia processing times and provide a straightforward visa package that will allow companies across various industries to secure valuable international talent. Visit - https://www.tooroomigration.com.au/business-and-investment

1. Is Australia An Immigration
Nation?

2. The impact of the COVID pandemic was
immense. Australia itself now feeling the
effects of its two-year border closure policies.
The strict border regulations may have seemed
necessary, considering the plight of the
pandemic. However, businesses across the
country are now struggling to find workers,
leaving over half a million jobs vacant. This is a
poor sight for a country once dubbed an
“immigration nation”.
Introduction

3. A good example is the rapidly increasing “For
Lease” signs on display across Melbourne city.
Who would’ve thought that in just a single year,
the city’s 5 million population number would
decrease by 60,500? Of course, its wearying
lockdowns certainly did not help. Migrant
workers, international students and many other
first and second-generation Australians all
choosing to move away has left the city’s working
sector scarred. This is consistent across the nation
and widespread across many sectors such as
hospitality, child care, IT, education, etc.

4. No doubt this is a crisis for a country that has
relied on immigration to boost its economy
over the past 20-30 years. Now the Labour
government led by Prime minister Anthony
Albanese seeks to rebuild the country’s
reputation on the global front for skilled
workers. Although the government have laid
out a more optimistic approach in the federal
budget for the 2022-23 financial year, with the
main intention being to increase permanent
immigration, the country will continue to
struggle in building trust with the international
market.

5. The country’s hard border closure
earning it the unfavourable name
“Fortress Australia” along with the
failure to provide benefits, food, social
support, and housing to migrant
workers resulted in such a situation.

6. Although Australia would have to work
hard to ensure it can compete with other
countries such as Canada and the UK in the
international market once again, its
recently proposed strategies will help the
nation progress towards that direction.
Another important measure is to ensure the
reduction in visa for business in
Australia processing times and provide a
straightforward visa package that will allow
companies across various industries to
secure valuable international talent.

7. There has also been a consideration in
scrapping the much-criticized Significant
Investor Visa (SIV) program to ensure that
skilled international migrant workers are
prioritized. The SIV program grants visas
to investors who invest $5 million into the
country. Although the program has
allowed large-scale investment of around
$11.8 billion into many businesses, it is
criticized as many see it as an easy
pathway for wealthy individuals to live in
the country, 85% of whom come from
China.

8. Despite the importance the Australian government now
place on attracting a large number of migrant workers,
there is still a concern as to whether Australians would
welcome an increase in immigration. In a recent survey of
1607 voters, 33% were opposed to the idea of increasing
permanent migration.

9. Economic Policy Director at Grattan
Institute Brendan Coates makes the
point that an increase in permanent
migration will ensure larger fiscal
dividends for the economy however,
the country must not overly rely on
cheap foreign labour, as this will
prevent the appropriate training of
Australians. No matter the attitude
Australians may have, there is no
doubt that Australia is desperate for
skilled workers and migration and
therefore will look to ensure that it
can address the economy-wide skills
shortage.