After a long wait, the Department of Home Affairs has finally updated the full state nomination quotas on its official website, covering every state.
Although WA and other states have been lobbying for more places, it appears Home Affairs has firmly stuck with the state-by-state allocations set in September. The total state nomination quota this year sits at just 20,350 — made up of 12,850 subclass 190 places and 7,500 subclass 491 places.
The 190 program is down 3,650 places on last financial year, and 491 is down 2,260.
Looking at individual states, only Queensland and the Northern Territory saw their total allocations increase. Queensland gained 1,250 subclass 190 places and 150 subclass 491 places, while the Northern Territory picked up an extra 50 subclass 190 places.
Every other state has been cut. The biggest 190 reduction went to SA, which lost 1,650 places. WA lost 1,000, NSW and TAS each lost 900, VIC lost 300, and Canberra lost 200.
On the 491 side, VIC copped the largest cut at 1,300 places, followed by WA down 600, NSW down 500, and TAS down 110. QLD gained 150, SA gained 100, and the NT stayed flat.
Competition for state nomination is expected to be fierce this financial year. Now that each state has its numbers, all we can do is hope invitations start going out before Christmas.
