State Migration Plans - Official Statement

[George Lombard]

The Sponsored Skilled Migration Policy Section, Labour Market Branch, DIAC, has given the MIA the following advice:

In the absence of State Migration Plans (SMPs), State/Territory government agencies should only seek to nominate applicants whose occupation is listed in Schedule 3.

Once their State Migration Plan commences, they will have access to Schedule 4 occupations provided the nominated occupation is included within the relevant Plan or the jurisdiction identifies the occupation as an off-list nomination. In the case of off-list, the occupation can be any occupation listed in Schedule 4 even if it is not listed within the relevant Plan. It is intended that each jurisdiction will have 100 primary off-list nominations to use per program year.

States/Territories should not seek to nominate an applicant from Schedule 4 unless there is a plan in place as within the Migration Regulations 1994, there is a Schedule 2 time of decision requirement for the applicable visa subclasses that 'the Minister accepts the nomination'. For the nomination to be accepted, it will need to be made from Schedule 3 while there is no Plan in place and once there is a Plan, that the nomination be in accordance with the Plan.

 

The MIA Queensland Branch President Sharon Harris has been advised that SMPs will not be released by anyone now until after the Federal Election.

 

 

Cheers,

 

 

George Lombard