18 April 2017 – Turnbull Government announces abolition of the 457 visa and introduction of the new TSS visa
19 April 2017 – Removal of 218 skilled occupations from list of sponsored occupations as well as introduction of two new skilled occupations lists:
o Medium – Long Term Strategic List (MLTSSL) and Short Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL)
o Changes to the validity period of a 457 visa for applications lodged and/or approved on or after 19 April 2017. Two years will be granted if the occupation is on STSOL or up to four years if the occupation is on MLTSSL
o Opportunity given by DIBP to withdraw a 457 nomination and/or visa application in progress where an occupation is no longer on the either list
· 1 July 2017 – Further review of existing 457 visa arrangements
o Possible removal of occupations from both lists (MLTSSL and STSOL)
o Introduction of providing police clearance as part of the 457 visa application process
o Changes to existing training benchmark requirements
o Changes to English language requirements
· 1 December 2017 – Data Matching Introduced
o DIBP will start collecting Tax File Numbers (TFN) for existing 457 visa holders for the purpose of cross checking salary against earnings declared on a recent 457 nomination
· March 2018 – Abolition of the 457 visa and introduction of the TSS visa
o 457 visas will be abolished
o TSS will be introduced
o There will be two streams available under TSS
§ Caveats for certain occupations including minimum salary requirements as well as certain occupations reserved exclusively for regional areas
§ Mandatory prior employment experience for both streams
§ Labour Market Testing (unless exempt under International Obligations)
§ A non discriminatory workforce test to be introduced
