The Australian government announced a package of reforms to permanent skilled migration programme which would be commenced on 19 Apr 2017 and be completed by Mar 2018.
Here are the changes from 19 Apr 2017 which will impact all new applicants for permanent employer sponsored skilled visa programmes:
- Occupation lists: The occupation list for the ENS visa was significantly condensed, with 216 occupations removed, and access to 24 occupations restricted to regional Australia (e.g. occupations relating to farming and agriculture).
- The Consolidated Sponsored Occupation List (CSOL) was renamed the new Short-Term Skilled Occupations List (STSOL) and will be updated every six months based on stakeholder feedback and labour market analysis.
- The Skilled Occupations List (SOL) was renamed the new Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). This list contains occupations that have been assessed as being of high value to the Australian economy and aligning to the Government’s longer term training and workforce strategies. The MLTSSL is updated annually by the Department of Education and Training.
216 occupations removed from occupation list for the ENS visa
| Occupation | ANZSCO Code | |
| 1. | Defence Force Senior Officer | 111212 |
| 2. | Turf Grower | 121218 |
| 3. | Deer Farmer | 121314 |
| 4. | Goat Farmer | 121315 |
| 5. | Public Relations Manager | 131114 |
| 6. | Policy and Planning Manager | 132411 |
| 7. | Research and Development Manager | 132511 |
| 8. | Project Builder | 133112 |
| 9. | Importer or Exporter | 133311 |
| 10. | Wholesaler | 133312 |
| 11. | Production Manager (Manufacturing) | 133512 |
| 12. | Production Manager (Mining) | 133513 |
| 13. | Procurement Manager | 133612 |
| 14. | Medical Administrator (Aus) / Medical Superintendent (NZ) | 134211 |
| 15. | Regional Education Manager | 134412 |
| 16. | Commissioned Defence Force Officer | 139111 |
| 17. | Commissioned Fire Officer | 139112 |
| 18. | Commissioned Police Officer | 139113 |
| 19. | Senior Non-commissioned Defence Force Member | 139211 |
| 20. | Sports Administrator | 139915 |
| 21. | Caravan Park and Camping Ground Manager | 141211 |
| 22. | Licensed Club Manager | 141411 |
| 23. | Bed and Breakfast Operator | 141911 |
| 24. | Retirement Village Manager | 141912 |
| 25. | Antique Dealer | 142112 |
| 26. | Betting agency Manager | 142113 |
| 27. | Travel Agency Manager | 142116 |
| 28. | Amusement Centre Manager | 149111 |
| 29. | Call or Contact Centre Manager | 149211 |
| 30. | Railway Station Manager | 149412 |
| 31. | Boarding Kennel or Cattery Operator | 149911 |
| 32. | Cinema or Theatre Manager | 149912 |
| 33. | Financial Institution Branch Manager | 149914 |
| 34. | Actor | 211111 |
| 35. | Entertainer or Variety Artist | 211113 |
| 36. | Actors, Dancers and Other Entertainers nec | 211199 |
| 37. | Composer | 211211 |
| 38. | Music Director | 211212 |
| 39. | Singer | 211214 |
| 40. | Music Professionals nec | 211299 |
| 41. | Painter (Visual Arts) | 211411 |
| 42. | Potter or ceramic artist | 211412 |
| 43. | Sculptor | 211413 |
| 44. | Artistic Director | 212111 |
| 45. | Media Producer (excluding Video) | 212112 |
| 46. | Radio Presenter | 212113 |
| 47. | Television Presenter | 212114 |
| 48. | Author | 212211 |
| 49. | Art Director (Film, Television or Stage) | 212311 |
| 50. | Director of Photography | 212313 |
| 51. | Film, Television, Radio and Stage Directors nec | 212399 |
| 52. | Radio Journalist | 212414 |
| 53. | Corporate Treasurer | 221212 |
| 54. | Futures Trader | 222212 |
| 55. | Human Resource Adviser | 223111 |
| 56. | Workplace Relations Advisor | 223113 |
| 57. | Training and Development Professional | 223311 |
| 58. | Archivist | 224211 |
| 59. | Intelligence Officer | 224411 |
| 60. | Policy Analyst | 224412 |
| 61. | Electorate Officer | 224911 |
| 62. | Liaison Officer | 224912 |
| 63. | Migration Agent (Aus) | 224913 |
| 64. | Market Research Analyst | 225112 |
| 65. | Sales Representative (Industrial Products) | 225411 |
| 66. | Sales Representative (Medical and Pharmaceutical Products) | 225412 |
| 67. | Aeroplane Pilot | 231111 |
| 68. | Air Traffic Controller | 231112 |
| 69. | Flying Instructor | 231113 |
| 70. | Helicopter Pilot | 231114 |
| 71. | Air Transport Professionals nec | 231199 |
| 72. | Master Fisher | 231211 |
| 73. | Ship’s Engineer | 231212 |
| 74. | Ship’s Master | 231213 |
| 75. | Ship’s Officer | 231214 |
| 76. | Marine Surveyor | 231215 |
| 77. | Marine Transport Professionals nec | 231299 |
| 78. | Multimedia Designer | 232413 |
| 79. | Chemical Engineer | 233111 |
| 80. | Materials Engineer | 233112 |
| 81. | Electronics Engineer | 233411 |
| 82. | Industrial Engineer | 233511 |
| 83. | Production or Plant Engineer | 233513 |
| 84. | Petroleum Engineer | 233612 |
| 85. | Food Technologist | 234212 |
| 86. | Conservation Officer | 234311 |
| 87. | Park Ranger | 234314 |
| 88. | Geophysicist | 234412 |
| 89. | Hydrogeologist | 234413 |
| 90. | Life Scientist (General) | 234511 |
| 91. | Biochemist | 234513 |
| 92. | Biotechnologist | 234514 |
| 93. | Microbiologist | 234517 |
| 94. | Life Scientists nec | 234599 |
| 95. | Metallurgist | 234912 |
| 96. | Exercise Physiologist | 234915 |
| 97. | Natural and Physical Science Professionals nec | 234999 |
| 98. | Vocational Education Teacher (Trades) | 242211 |
| 99. | Vocational Education Teacher (Non-Trades) | 242211 |
| 100. | Education Reviewer | 249112 |
| 101. | Drama Teacher (Private Tuition) | 249213 |
| 102. | Environmental Health Officer | 251311 |
| 103. | Homoeopath | 252212 |
| 104. | Nurse Researcher | 254212 |
| 105. | Web Developer | 261212 |
| 106. | ICT Support and Test Engineers nec | 263299 |
| 107. | Judge | 271211 |
| 108. | Magistrate | 271212 |
| 109. | Tribunal Member | 271213 |
| 110. | Intellectual Property Lawyer | 271214 |
| 111. | Historian | 272411 |
| 112. | Translator | 272413 |
| 113. | Archaeologist | 272414 |
| 114. | Community Arts Worker | 272611 |
| 115. | Operating Theatre Technician | 311214 |
| 116. | Pathology Collector (Aus) / Phlebotomist (NZ) | 311216 |
| 117. | Fisheries Officer | 311311 |
| 118. | Quarantine Officer | 311313 |
| 119. | School Laboratory Technician | 311414 |
| 120. | Hydrographer | 311415 |
| 121. | Construction Estimator | 312114 |
| 122. | Plumbing Inspector | 312115 |
| 123. | Surveying or Spatial Science Technician | 312116 |
| 124. | Civil Engineering Technician | 312212 |
| 125. | Electronic Engineering Draftsperson | 312411 |
| 126. | Electronic Engineering Technician | 312412 |
| 127. | Mechanical Engineering Draftsperson | 312511 |
| 128. | Safety Inspector | 312611 |
| 129. | Maintenance Planner | 312911 |
| 130. | Building and Engineering Technicians nec | 312999 |
| 131. | ICT Support Technicians nec | 313199 |
| 132. | Telecommunications Network Planner | 313213 |
| 133. | Blacksmith | 322111 |
| 134. | Electroplater | 322112 |
| 135. | Metal Casting Trades Worker | 322114 |
| 136. | Metal Polisher | 322115 |
| 137. | Pressure Welder | 322312 |
| 138. | Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Avionics) | 323111 |
| 139. | Engraver | 323311 |
| 140. | Gunsmith | 323312 |
| 141. | Saw Maker and Repairer | 323315 |
| 142. | Engineering Patternmaker | 323411 |
| 143. | Vehicle Painter | 324311 |
| 144. | Stonemason | 331112 |
| 145. | Floor Finisher | 332111 |
| 146. | Electrical Linesworker (Aus) / Electrical Line Mechanic (NZ) | 342211 |
| 147. | Communications Operator | 342312 |
| 148. | Telecommunications Cable Jointer | 342412 |
| 149. | Telecommunications Technician | 342414 |
| 150. | Butcher or Smallgoods Maker | 351211 |
| 151. | Horse Trainer | 361112 |
| 152. | Zookeeper | 361114 |
| 153. | Kennel Hand | 361115 |
| 154. | Shearer | 361211 |
| 155. | Nurseryperson | 362411 |
| 156. | Screen Printer | 392112 |
| 157. | Graphic Pre-press Trades Worker | 392211 |
| 158. | Small Offset Printer | 392312 |
| 159. | Canvas Goods Fabricator | 393111 |
| 160. | Leather Goods Maker | 393112 |
| 161. | Sail Maker | 393113 |
| 162. | Shoemaker | 393114 |
| 163. | Apparel Cutter | 393211 |
| 164. | Clothing Patternmaker | 393212 |
| 165. | Dressmaker or Tailor | 393213 |
| 166. | Clothing Trades Workers nec | 393299 |
| 167. | Wood Turner | 394214 |
| 168. | Gas or Petroleum Operator | 399212 |
| 169. | Gallery or Museum Technician | 399311 |
| 170. | Broadcast Transmitter Operator | 399511 |
| 171. | Light Technician | 399513 |
| 172. | Musical Instrument Maker or Repairer | 399515 |
| 173. | Television Equipment Operator | 399517 |
| 174. | Diver | 399911 |
| 175. | Interior Decorator | 399912 |
| 176. | Optical Dispenser (Aus) / Dispensing Optician (NZ) | 399913 |
| 177. | Optical Mechanic | 399914 |
| 178. | Plastics Technician | 399916 |
| 179. | Wool Classer | 399917 |
| 180. | Fire Protection Equipment Technician | 399918 |
| 181. | Technicians and Trades Workers nec | 399999 |
| 182. | Dental Hygienist | 411211 |
| 183. | Dental Prosthetist | 411212 |
| 184. | Dental Therapist | 411214 |
| 185. | Mothercraft Nurse | 411412 |
| 186. | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker | 411511 |
| 187. | Parole or Probation Officer | 411714 |
| 188. | Defence Force Member – Other Ranks | 441111 |
| 189. | Emergency Service Worker | 441211 |
| 190. | Fire Fighter | 441212 |
| 191. | Detective | 441311 |
| 192. | Police Officer | 441312 |
| 193. | Prison Officer | 442111 |
| 194. | Driving Instructor | 451211 |
| 195. | Funeral Director | 451311 |
| 196. | Funeral Workers nec | 451399 |
| 197. | Flight Attendant | 451711 |
| 198. | Travel Attendants nec | 451799 |
| 199. | First Aid Trainer | 451815 |
| 200. | Dog or Horse Racing Official | 452318 |
| 201. | Sports Umpire | 452322 |
| 202. | Other Sports Official | 452323 |
| 203. | Golfer | 452412 |
| 204. | Jockey | 452413 |
| 205. | Conveyancer | 599111 |
| 206. | Legal Executive | 599112 |
| 207. | Court Bailiff or Sheriff (Aus) / Court Collections Officer (NZ) | 599212 |
| 208. | Insurance Investigator | 599611 |
| 209. | Insurance Risk Surveyor | 599613 |
| 210. | Clinical Coder | 599915 |
| 211. | Auctioneer | 611111 |
| 212. | Stock and Station Agent | 611112 |
| 213. | Business Broker | 612111 |
| 214. | Retail Buyer | 639211 |
| 215. | Wool Buyer | 639212 |
| 216. | Driller | 712211 |
24 occupations restricted to regional Australia
| Occupation | ANZSCO Code | |
| 1. | Aquaculture Farmer | 121111 |
| 2. | Cotton Grower | 121211 |
| 3. | Flower Grower | 121212 |
| 4. | Fruit or Nut Grower | 121213 |
| 5. | Grain, Oilseed or Pasture Grower (Aus) / Field Crop Grower (NZ) | 121214 |
| 6. | Grape Grower | 121215 |
| 7. | Mixed Crop Farmer | 121216 |
| 8. | Sugar Cane Grower | 121217 |
| 9. | Vegetable Grower (Aus) / Market Gardener (NZ) | 121221 |
| 10. | Crop Farmers nec | 121299 |
| 11. | Apiarist | 121311 |
| 12. | Beef Cattle Farmer | 121312 |
| 13. | Dairy Cattle Farmer | 121313 |
| 14. | Horse Breeder | 121316 |
| 15. | Mixed Livestock Farmer | 121317 |
| 16. | Pig Farmer | 121318 |
| 17. | Poultry Farmer | 121321 |
| 18. | Sheep Farmer | 121322 |
| 19. | Livestock Farmers nec | 121399 |
| 20. | Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmer | 121411 |
| 21. | Production Manager (Forestry) | 133511 |
| 22. | Wine Maker | 234213 |
| 23. | Agricultural Technician | 311111 |
| 24. | Primary Products Inspectors nec | 311399 |