Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) has made a joint submission with CPA Australia to the Department of Home Affairs in response to the review of the points test discussion paper.

The review of Australia’s migration system found that the points test is not designed to identify applicants with the best potential to contribute to Australia over the long term, and the skilled migration occupation lists are outdated, lack a strong evidence base, and do not reflect current or anticipated skilled labour needs.

We recommend that the Department of Home Affairs:

• Adjusts the threshold points required to be eligible to be invited to express an interest to migrate considering the maximum total points that could be claimed once this is determined.
• Changes points allocated for higher education qualifications by raising the maximum that can be claimed, providing more points for higher qualification levels, and rewarding points for more than one higher education qualification.
• Introduces points for occupation-specific credentials recognised by relevant assessing authorities.
• In collaboration with assessing authorities, investigates means for recognising and rewarding shorter form credentials with points.
• Changes the approach to allocating points for skilled work experience by lowering the minimum that attracts points from three years to two years’ experience and lowering the lower band of the top bracket for attracting points to six years.
• In collaboration with assessing authorities, investigates using exams to recognise and independently verify the relevance of prior learning.
• Increases the number of points allocated for completing an approved professional year work readiness program in Australia.
• Gives English language proficiency greater weight in the points test.
• Investigates alternatives that facilitate a greater granulation of points for English language proficiency, and better matching of minimum language ability requirements and points allocated for language skills to the skilled visa program an applicant is applying under.
• Introduces a sliding scale of points based on the ages of younger and older applicants.
• Collaborates with Jobs and Skills Australia to design a skills (versus occupations) list for implementation over the medium to longer term, and in the short term, reduces complexity by adopting a single migration occupations list.
• Passes a new legislative instrument that clarifies that the single migration occupations list cascades from the most current Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (now the Occupation Standard Classification for Australia).
• Discusses transition arrangements and timelines with the assessing authorities as early as possible once final decisions are reached regarding the reformed points test.
• Permits assessing authorities to assess applications made prior to the introduction of the reformed points test according to the test in place at the time of the application unless the applicant’s prospects are improved under the reformed points.
• Alters the single skilled migration occupations list on a case-by-case basis if triggered by substantive change.
• Monitors the reformed points test and evaluates its performance after its first year of operation, and following this initial evaluation, continues monitoring and review on a five-year cycle.
• Consults with key stakeholders, including the assessing authorities, as part of the review.