The Global Talent Visa scheme is being touted as a pathway for Hongkongers fleeing China's crackdown, as well as a focus of the nation’s post-coronavirus migration program.
The scheme, launched in November, was established to lure thousands of the world's best and brightest from future-focused sectors to Australia each year with the promise of fast-tracked permanent residency.
But with strict criteria including requiring most applicants to have the capacity to earn more than $150,000, is it a realistic pathway for those wanting to move to Australia when borders reopen?
Brisbane-based design engineer Robin Smith, who invented a pain relief delivery system used when castrating and docking sheep, moved with his family from Scotland last year after securing a visa under the GTS program.
His ingenuity has enabled anaesthetic to be more easily injected during the procedure conducted by commercial farmers in the sheep industry to ensure animal welfare.
Robin Smith with his family in Brisbane. Source: Supplied
The 42 year old initially came to Australia with his family on a tourist visa to gauge demand for the product. As the expiry date approached, he worried about the future of his family and the business.
"There was a real tension there between my family and my ambition for getting this business up and running," he said.
"Given the effort that's been put into getting here, and the millions of dollars that's been put into making this product - I really had to be here to make it happen."
Mr Smith's application for a GTS visa was supported by references from the Department of Primary Industries, the CSIRO and Australian Wool Innovation.
Robin Smith preparing his pain relief injecting device. Source: Supplied
The son and grandson of veterinarians, Mr Smith said receiving the global talent visa was a huge relief. It took just weeks to be processed compared to the lengthy waiting periods for other visas.
"Finding out about the global talent visa was an absolute lifeline for us - it kind of came in just at the perfect time," he told SBS News.
“We are starting to hopefully fit into Aussie life like many Scots before me. It's been a great life journey for us and the family, it's something I know my family will remember certainly for the rest of our lives."
'Super global talent'
While there is no official data on the number of global talent visas issued under the scheme, which started as a pilot program in July 2018, SBS News understands more than 4,000 applications were approved last financial year.
Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge has described the Global Talent Independent Program as a means of securing the “absolute super global talent” in specific-targeted sectors.
This includes ag-tech, space and advanced manufacturing, fintech, energy and mining technology, medtech, cyber security and data science.
Applicants must be able to attract a salary of at least $153,600 a year and have their application supported by a nominator of national reputation.
Earlier this month, Mr Tudge said the program would be considered a priority pathway for visa extensions to Hongkongers fearing political persecution.
Immigration Minister Alan Tudge speaks to the media at Parliament House in Canberra. Source: AAP
"We'll be prioritising applicants from Hong Kong for that scheme and providing some additional resources there as well to target those particular individuals who are real job multiplying people who create businesses, who are entrepreneurs, who have that tech talent," he said.
Strong interest in scheme
The coronavirus pandemic has caused mass disruption to Australia’s migration program because of a ban on international arrivals.
Net migration is set to fall by 85 per cent this financial year which will have a devastating economic impact.
Despite the disruption, migration agent Jordan Tew said interest in the global talent scheme had not subsided.
"This is an interest that is coming from a broad spectrum of people across those targeted sectors and we're actually seeing individuals both in Australia already here on visas, as well as from outside," he said.
“You are really getting the cream of the crop people - the type of people that have been making you wonder what you've been doing with yourself.”
The federal government is expected to announce a reset of the migration program in its October budget, which could see a shift in emphasis on skill shortage visas, rather than family visas, as part of a plan to restart the economy.
Australia a more attractive destination
Australia’s peak advocacy group for tech start-ups is calling on the government to consider making the recruitment pathway a priority for the post-coronavirus migration program.
StartupAus CEO Alex McCauley told SBS News the scheme could help drive innovation and economic recovery through building a world class tech sector.
“It's really about unlocking global talent to help Australia build globally successful businesses and drive up prosperity into the future,” he said.
“The best workers globally will be thinking about Australia as right at the top of the list of places they might want to move to.”
Former deputy secretary of the immigration department and migration analyst Abul Rizvi said the "enormous uncertainty" caused by the coronavirus would likely constrain the global talent scheme.
StartUp Aus CEO Alex McCauley. Source: Supplied
“In the short-term not a great deal will be made in terms of the usage of the global independent visa,” he told SBS News.
“Simply because of the restriction on the number of international arrivals that are permitted at the moment."
But he said when international borders open it is possible the scheme’s usage will rise as the government once again looks to attract highly talented migrants.
“Undoubtedly - Australia has done very well with the virus and that will be attractive to high flying - high skilled people,” he said.
