Australia is an immigration nation, and among the most successful multicultural countries in the world. But for too many new migrants, insecure work and a lack of agency prohibit them engaging fully in Australian society and the Australian economy.

This report explores this challenge, and how we Australia can strengthen its temporary migration program to ensure better outcomes for Australia’s migrants, and the Australian economy.

The report concludes with 12 recommendations to government aimed at strengthening Australia’s immigration framework to deliver stronger outcomes for the Australian economy, further protections for temporary migrant workers, and improvements to social cohesion.

Key recommendations:

• The government should invest in adequately identifying the degree to which exploitation and abuse of temporary entrants exists across all visa categories.
• The government should offer a more streamlined pathway to permanent protection to the growing number of people in Australia on Temporary Protection visas.
• The government should review changes to the former sub-class 489 state/territory government sponsored skilled migration visa to enable greater take up and reduce the risk of exploitation.