It looks like the cold of winter is here to stay for the year, but that hasn’t slowed us down at all. Here’s our summary of the busy month of May:
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- It’s been encouraging to see an increase in Skills in Demand (SID) (subclass 482) visa grants this month, bringing welcome news to both sponsoring employers and the skilled overseas workers they support. While the visa application backlog is continually being addressed by the Federal Government and the Department of Home Affairs, significant delays persist. Many applicants continue to face processing times that extend well beyond the government’s targeted median, which is frustrating for employers and employees alike.
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- Early in the month, the Labor Party secured a decisive victory in the federal election, ensuring the continuation of its current migration strategy – providing much-needed policy certainty for both businesses and prospective migrants. Their policy focuses on reducing net migration, maintaining skilled worker intake, and tightening rules on student and temporary visas. The re-elected Albanese government has reaffirmed its commitment to a “smaller, better planned” migration intake, aiming to align population growth with infrastructure capacity, housing availability, and economic demand. Key measures include stronger visa integrity controls, a more targeted skills-based intake, and increased oversight of international education providers.
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- The March 2025 statistical report on temporary work visas has been published on the Department of Home Affairs website. It covers key visa subclasses, including the Skills in Demand (SID) visa, the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (both subclass 482), and the Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457). The report provides comprehensive data on visa grants and the total number of visa holders currently in Australia. It also includes detailed statistics on the location of nominated positions, nominated occupations, associated salaries, and the countries of citizenship of visa holders. Notably, the report highlights the top occupations by number of visa grants, with Chefs and Resident Medical Officers topping the list of occupations, and leading sponsor industries including Health Care & Social Assistance, Accommodation & Food Services, and Other Services. A significant finding in this report is the 8.2% decline in temporary work visa holders transitioning to permanent residency, dropping from 26,560 to 24,380 compared to the previous period. These insights enable the Federal Government to monitor temporary work visa trends and evaluate where policy adjustments may be needed to enhance the program.
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- Beyond immigration-specific updates, a key upcoming change affecting employers and employees alike is the scheduled increase of the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) rate. From 1 July 2025, the SG rate will rise from 11.5% to 12% of an employee’s ordinary time earnings. This increase is part of the legislated incremental changes aimed at strengthening retirement savings for Australian workers. Employers will need to ensure their payroll systems are updated in time to comply with the new rate and budget for the associated rise in superannuation contributions. For employees, this change will result in a modest boost to their long-term retirement savings, although it may also impact salary packaging arrangements depending on individual contracts. The increase is likely to impact businesses that sponsor visa holders to work in Australia, potentially influencing the number of employers who are financially able or willing to continue sponsoring overseas workers.
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- To round out the month, we are very proud to announce that Nomos has been acknowledged for the second year running by Best Lawyers in the Best Law Firms™ – Australia 2026 publication, and Kathryn Viegas has been included in the Best Lawyers – Immigration Law list for the 8th consecutive year. Nomos’ inclusion in this prestigious list places our firm within the top 5% of Australian law firms for professional excellence. Some of our clients generously gave their time to participate in the process and provide Best Lawyers with some insights into our firm. At Nomos, putting our clients at the heart of everything we do remains our primary guiding principle. We’re proud of the dedication our team brings every day to achieving the best possible outcomes. Receiving this recognition again is truly an honour, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to continue making a meaningful impact through our work.
That’s the Nomos wrap-up for May. See you next month!
*All information is general information only, as at the date of publication, and should not be interpreted as legal advice. For an accurate and current assessment of your circumstances and visa options, please contact us to receive this advice.
