Australia’s next federal election will be held on 21 May 2022. If the major opposition Australian Labor Party (Labor) wins, power adjustments to Australia’s immigration policy are expected. A hung Parliament where one or a combination of the Australian Greens, a minor party, or Independents hold the balance of power and influence government policy is also possible.
Key goals of Labor’s skilled immigration policy articulated in the November 2021 ALP National Platform (pdf) include:
- Meeting skills shortages
- Protecting local employment opportunities and working conditions
- Preventing exploitation of temporary workers, particularly international students and working holiday makers
The Australian Greens’ immigration policy is broadly aligned with these goals. The Greens’ policy also calls for a review of the family, skilled and business migration streams to prioritize family reunion and meet skills shortages.
Both the Labor and Greens immigration policies also address increasing and reforming humanitarian migration, reforming immigration detention and specific measures for migration from the Pacific.
A Tax Alert prepared by EY's People Advisory Services group, and attached below, provides additional details.
