The Labor government just doubled the fee for temporary graduate visa (subclass 485), with exceptions for Timor-Leste and Pacific Island Countries passport holders. The fee went from $2300 to $4600 overnight!
Many students apply for this visa and use it as a stepping stone to work towards obtaining a permanent residence.
Last year 100,000 immigrants applied.
With racist rhetoric at an all-time high and Pauline Hanson’s anti-immigrant One Nation party polling at 25% nationally…
This unprecedented rise in visa costs suggests that the Labor government is capitulating to the far right and racist tendencies in Australian politics.
This is an issue that effects migrant workers and must be addressed by unions.
But while union affiliation with Labor will prevent some unions speaking out, it will be up to the worker members themselves to advocate for action on visas within their unions.
If you’re a migrant worker, get in contact to get educated on how to organise in the workplace against visa exploitation and against anti-immigrant policies.