Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

The incorporated speech read as follows—

You will be aware that in my short time in this place, I have shown steady interest in matters relating to migration law.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Minister and his office for their efforts to provide regular and detailed briefings over the past three weeks, particularly in relation to the Governments’ plans to review timelines for judicial review of migration decisions.

I wish to acknowledge the Minister’s offer to take a personal interest in the case I have raised previously in relation to a young Afghani refugee who had a number of family members killed by the Taliban, as well as other cases that are brought to his attention which demonstrate unique and exceptional cases.

I would also like to again commend the Circle of Friends for their advocacy in relation to such cases.

I appreciate his position in relation to Ministerial Intervention and look forward to future discussions which will hopefully produce a fairer appeals and approval system, which will make such intervention less necessary.

I am certain that we will not see eye to eye on every matter in this complex and contentious area of policy, but I respect the Ministers’ efforts and thank him.

That said, I support the broad intention of this bill and indicate that I will be supporting its second reading.

I commend this bill with its intent that it will better protect foreign workers from improper practices by Australian migration sponsors.

I note that the bill aims to make changes to sub class 457 temporary residence visas to provide greater flexibility in Ministerial approval of group sponsorships, improved information about sponsor responsibilities, increased powers to explore non-compliant sponsors and harsher penalties.

I will not take up more time of the Senate going through the specific mechanisms by which this will be achieved. However, I have a number of points on which I would like clarification from the Minister in the committee stage.

Firstly, this bill sets up a framework in which regulations will be developed to enable the bills broader goals. Could the Minister please provide information on the nature and detail of these regulations as they currently stand?

Secondly, I note that red tape, requirements for quantifiable training programs and external training providers can make sponsorship onerous for smaller and niche businesses. In what ways will these changes, if any, will these changes make it easier for these businesses to become approved sponsors?

Finally, I note that medical examinations and English testing can produce significant delays in departmental processing of individual applicants and suggest that these new provisions are to reduce some of these delays. Is this an accurate interpretation? And if so, what measures does the Minister plan to reduce these delays for all 457 visa applicants?

With these things in mind, I support the second reading of this bill and look forward to the Minister’s response in the committee stage.