Key Points
- Australia and India have entered into a landmark Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement (MMPA).
- The MMPA has been specifically designed for India, aiming to encourage the bilateral mobility of students, graduates, academic researchers, and business people.
- A pilot program called MATES (Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early Professionals Scheme) will offer temporary visas to 3,000 young professionals.
Last month, Australia and India entered into a landmark Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement (MMPA).
The 'enhanced cooperation on migration issues', inked during the second official Australian visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is said to benefit both countries.
Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland greets India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right) as he arrives at Sydney Airport in Sydney, Monday, May 22, 2023. Credit: DAVID GRAY/AAPIMAGE
"The MMPA reaffirms the existing visa options that facilitate mobility and migration between our two countries, including pathways for visitors, students, graduates, academic researchers, business people and other professionals," they added.
Credit: Wikimedia commons
MATES will offer a new mobility pathway for Indian graduates and early career professionals with knowledge and skills in targeted fields of study to live and work in Australia for up to two years.
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Eligible fields include renewable energy, mining, engineering, information and communication technology, artificial intelligence, financial technology and agricultural technology.
MATES will commence as a pilot program with 3,000 places for primary applicants per program year, who may bring dependants.
The temporary visa program is not part of Australia’s permanent Migration Program.
The scheme will be open to Indian nationals under the age of 31 (at the time of application) who have recently graduated from an eligible Indian university with a degree in a specified area of study.
MATES will allow for a multiple entry visa for a period not exceeding 24 months.
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The MATES program is yet to be implemented and the process for application and other details are yet to be released.
The MMPA will also increase visa validity for Indian nationals from up to three years to up to five years for the Visitor (Business stream) (Subclass 600) visas.
Reacting to the new announcement, Engineers Australia CEO Romilly Madew AO said making it easier for Indian engineers to migrate to Australia will help to address current skills gaps in the country.
"Over 60 per cent of engineers in Australia are born overseas," Ms Madew told SBS Hindi.
Romilly Madew is CEO of Engineers Australia.
"The recently announced MATES will assist in boosting our engineering workforce as it will provide a new pathway for early-career professions and graduates to come to Australia without the need for sponsorship, allowing for greater mobility in their job search," she added.
The Associate Vice Chair of the Australia India Business Council, Ashok Mysore, echoed similar sentiments.
Ashok Mysore is National Associate Vice Chair of Australia India Business Council.
He further pointed out that the program would open visa spots for eligible young professionals without needing a visa sponsorship.
"Mobility and timely availability of this talent pool will help accelerate this economic growth in Australia," he said.
In contrast, Jenny Goldie of Sustainable Population Australia, an organisation which has long campaigned to protect the environment by ending population growth, has cautioned against the MMPA.
She says the MMPA agreement does not include caps on numbers of visas offered, making it impossible to keep Australia’s migrant intake to a sustainable level.
“The whole agreement is going to lead to massive population growth in Australia. At a minimum, it places a diplomatic barrier in the way of any future contraction of immigration to sustainable levels. This we don’t need in light of continuing biodiversity loss and likely reduction in carrying capacity from climate change,” she said in recently.
