The finalisation of the long awaited Queensland State Migration Plan was announced today by Australia’s Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen, together with Queensland MP Andrew Fraser.

All Australian states and territories are required to enact individual State Migration Plans, which are agreements between each state and territory and the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. These agreements specify the overall number of immigration applicants each state or territory are permitted to nominate, as well as which occupations skilled migrants may be nominated to work in.  

Mr Bowen states “The implementation of state migration plans will provide flexibility for state and territory governments to nominate skilled migrants in a broader range of occupations than are currently offered on the Skilled Occupation List.”

It is intended that Queensland’s State Migration Plan will enable the Queensland government to nominate migrants whose skills meet the particular needs of the Queensland economy and labor market, as well as acting to address the anticipated future needs of Queensland’s workforce.

Andrew Fraser indicated that 83 specific occupations in skills shortage areas were included under the state’s new State Migration Plan. “Queensland is looking at sourcing highly skilled workers to meet critical skills shortages in priority industry areas and occupations, such as regional health practitioners and engineers for mining and coal seam gas projects.”

Queensland’s State Migration Plan limits the sponsorship of skilled migrants to Queensland to the Skilled Sponsored (subclasses 176 and 886) and Skilled Regional Sponsored (subclasses 475 and 487) visa categories.
 

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