overhaul
kers’ visa under way
The Subclass 457
Visa will be abol-
ished and replaced
with the Tempo-
rary Skill Shortage
Visa. The new
visa will include
mandatory criminal
checks and tighter
English language
requirements.
are very clear about saying
because we are making no
apologies for the fact that we
do want people to be able to
integrate,” he said.
He said the idea of making
the tests more competitive
and exhaustive is demonstrate
the applicants readiness to
integrate and have the ability
to speak English.
“The idea of that is for the
demonstration of integration,
of the ability to improve
English language, to make
sure that people can then
demonstrate that they have
been working, if they’re of
working age with a capacity
to work, demonstrate that they
haven’t been perpetrators of
domestic violence or whatever
the case might be in relation to
the particular test,” he said.
“So the first point is
the residency requirement
changes. There’s a significant
change in relation to the
English language requirement
which at the moment is basic.
We increase that to IELTS
Level 6 equivalent, so that is at
a competent English language
proficiency level and I think
there would be wide support
for that as well.”
A resident now also must
have stayed in Australia for at
least four years before being
able to apply for citizenship.
Tougher rules for foreign workers