Submission to the Migration Amendment Bill 2023
The FECCA supports the Migration Amendment (Australia’s Engagement in the Pacific and Other Measures) Bill 2023, highlighting its potential to strengthen Australia’s engagement with Pacific communities through permanent pathways to residency and citizenship. FECCA emphasizes that inclusive migration policies promote social and economic value for both migrants and the nation, creating a fairer society where everyone belongs. Welcoming the Pacific Engagement Visa as a move beyond temporary labour arrangements, providing greater security and reducing vulnerabilities to exploitation for Pacific migrants. However, FECCA underscores the need to address broader systemic issues in migration, including the overuse of temporary visas and the power imbalances in employer-sponsored visa arrangements.
To improve the migration system, FECCA recommends principles of fairness, transparency, and accessibility, including affordable visa fees, timely processing, and informed engagement with migrant communities. They highlight the prohibitive costs of visas, such as partner and parent visas, as barriers to inclusivity and family reunification. FECCA also advocates for a comprehensive evaluation system to assess the program’s equity, efficiency, and impact. These recommendations aim to create a migration system that is simple, informed, and supportive, fostering inclusion and addressing the vulnerabilities of migrant workers while ensuring long-term benefits for Australia’s multicultural society.
