Yesterday came a bolt from the blue in WA: after the Commonwealth slashed its quota by 70%, the Premier personally stepped in to speak with the Prime Minister. On the one hand, this reflects unprecedented attention from the state government towards its nomination quota; on the other, it shows just how serious the issue is, and how far it caught the state government off guard.

For many people, yesterday’s biggest question was this:Are the other states being cut by that much too? Isn’t that actually good news for them?

As we explained yesterday, even WA — the most proactive state — had its quota cut by 70%,which proves the total quota planned by the Commonwealth is very small — it isn’t a question of how the pie is divided.And the reason the Commonwealth’s total planned quota is so smallis that the heavy volume of invitations issued in the last financial year left a backlog of 100,000 cases at year-end, severely overdrawing the visa grant places. For the full analysis, see:WA State Nomination Quota Tentatively Slashed by 70%… Will the Other States Fare Any Better?

We had said we hoped our analysis would be proven wrong — but today brought hard confirmation.

The same media outlet that first revealed WA’s 70% quota cut yesterday has followed up:after speaking with the other Premiers, the WA Premier learned that they too are equally unhappy with their state nomination quotas for the new financial year.

Now,the WA Premier is joining forces with the other states to push the Commonwealth to reconsider the quota numbers. The Prime Minister has saidhe has noted the concern and will take a look.

In addition,today SA also began processing state nomination applications already lodged, with new EOI confirmations coming through. This again shows every state has received its quota, but for now — because the numbers are so small and because they’re all fighting for more — none of them has made the figures public.

Many people then asked: wouldn’t it be enough simply to increase the visa grant places a little?

The baseline figure is very hard to change — and it’s already generous.

The permanent residency grant places for each financial year are set at Budget time— it is the single most central and foundational number in Australia’s Migration Program.This financial year’s total of 190,000 is already a high point, with 70% allocated to the skilled stream, andSubclasses 491+494+190+189 accounting for 67% of the skilled stream. Employer sponsorship is now the top priority, GTI and investor places together total fewer than 7,000, and the family stream has almost no room left to give to the skilled stream.

Can’t this financial year’s invitations simply be held over and granted in the next financial year?

But no one wants the snowball to keep growing

First, those already waiting for a grant are anxious: as at 30 June, the backlog for Subclasses 491+190 was 96,166, while this financial year’s grant places (that is, those that can be granted up to 30 June 2024) number 62,700,which leaves at least 30,000-plus that won’t be granted until after 1 July 2024 — and who wants that?

What’s more, clearing the visa backlog isa key achievement for the Labor government since taking office, and neither the government nor those waiting want to return to the one-million-case backlog seen late in the previous government’s term.

In short, with the visa backlog weighing things down, the Premiers’ lobbying may struggle to deliver — or to bring about a dramatic change across all states from the originally planned quota numbers —but we hope they can at least secure a reasonable range — say, a cut of 50%? 40%? Let’s wait and see how it plays out.

Employer Sponsorship: Worth Considering

If you already have at least 1.5 years of relevant work experience, you can consider the Subclass 482 employer-sponsored visa, which is not subject to quota limits.The policy allowing short-list occupations to transition to permanent residency is set to be legislated late this year.If you already have 2.5 years of work experience, you can start considering the Subclass 186 employer-sponsored visa for PR in a single step. With Labor’s backing, employer sponsorship is set to thrive. If you’d rather not chase points or ride the ups and downs of state nomination, add our consultant below for an assessment. Many everyday roles and occupations are eligible for employer sponsorship!

Recent Employer-Sponsorship Success Stories

Marketing Specialist:lodged in early August, with the sponsorship and nomination approved one after another on 22 August

Management Accountant:meeting the three-year work-experience requirement, this client went through the Subclass 186 (Direct Entry) stream to PR for them and their partner. Nomination lodged in October last year; nomination and visa both approved together on 17 August!

Statistician:nomination secured in early June for occupation code – 224113; granted two and a half months later!

Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic: Subclass 482 to 186 (TRT). Application lodged on 13 October last year, supplementary documents provided on 3 July, and on 8 August both the nomination and the visa were approved together!

Graphic Designer:previously employed at the company’s office in China, this client was transferred to the newly established Australian branch for career and business reasons — and had the nomination and visa approved smoothly in just half a month.

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WA Premier: Other States Aren’t Happy With Their Nomination Quotas Either — and They’re Joining the “Protest”! Could There Be a Big Reversal?

In fact, many people overlook the most expensive hidden cost on the migration journey: time.

No study abroad, no jumping through hoops — several types of overseas teachers can migrate to Australia directly!

Civil engineering / QS and more can apply for WA’s Subclass 190 without a job offer! NT’s MINT quota is exhausted!

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