It looks unlikely that plans to allow businesses in Australia to employ specialist professionals from overseas without a temporary 457 visa will go ahead.
The proposals was first muted in 2014 in a paper published by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) but not much has been heard about it since.
Now officials said that it is unlikely to see the light of day, not least because of the current security situation and heightened concerns about terrorism around the world, not just in Australia.
It had been argued that a short term mobility visa should be introduced to boost competitiveness for businesses that could not find people with the right experience and skills in Australia.
The visas would have been granted under certain conditions and would not be a route to more permanent migration or citizenships. Business groups had welcomed the idea but it has been opposed by trade unions. But a lot has changed since the idea was first put forward.
Visa reforms are now centred on a new simplified system that deregulates visa requirements, improves the process for applying for visas, and increasing efficiency for visa applications.
A DIBP spokesman said that there will be reforms to the current skilled migrations and temporary visa programmes, adding that significant amount of consultation has already taken place.
He also explained that the aim of any changes will be to improve Australia's competitiveness and ability to attract highly skilled migrants who are needed in certain areas and professions.
The first reforms could come as soon as July this year but details have not yet been confirmed. The spokesman added that no final decisions have been made on the new visa framework.
The proposals was first muted in 2014 in a paper published by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) but not much has been heard about it since.
Now officials said that it is unlikely to see the light of day, not least because of the current security situation and heightened concerns about terrorism around the world, not just in Australia.
It had been argued that a short term mobility visa should be introduced to boost competitiveness for businesses that could not find people with the right experience and skills in Australia.
The visas would have been granted under certain conditions and would not be a route to more permanent migration or citizenships. Business groups had welcomed the idea but it has been opposed by trade unions. But a lot has changed since the idea was first put forward.
Visa reforms are now centred on a new simplified system that deregulates visa requirements, improves the process for applying for visas, and increasing efficiency for visa applications.
A DIBP spokesman said that there will be reforms to the current skilled migrations and temporary visa programmes, adding that significant amount of consultation has already taken place.
He also explained that the aim of any changes will be to improve Australia's competitiveness and ability to attract highly skilled migrants who are needed in certain areas and professions.
The first reforms could come as soon as July this year but details have not yet been confirmed. The spokesman added that no final decisions have been made on the new visa framework.
