Alan Tudge (Aston, Liberal Party, Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I present a supplementary explanatory memorandum to the bill and move government amendments (1) and (2) together:

(1) Schedule 1, item 12, page 6 (line 8), before "The", insert "(1)".

(2) Schedule 1, item 12, page 6 (after line 22), at the end of section 140ZN, add:

  (2) For the purposes of paragraph (1) (e), the penalty payable must be a civil penalty not exceeding 60 penalty units.

The Migration Amendment (Skilling Australians Fund) Bill 2017 amends the Migration Act 1958 to provide for the collection of a nomination training contribution charge for employers nominating overseas skilled workers. This measure is a critical element to the government's employer sponsored skilled migration reforms, ensuring that Australian workers are given the first priority for jobs in this country.

The amendments to the bill set 60 penalty units, which is currently $12,600, as the maximum penalty that may be prescribed in the regulations for underpayments of a nomination training contribution charge. The amendments will provide certainty regarding the maximum amount of any penalty that may be prescribed in the regulations for underpayments of a nomination training contribution charge. This addresses the concerns of the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills in relation to the Migration Amendment (Skilling Australians Fund) Bill 2017, the amendment bill.

The administration of the Skilling Australians Fund will increase the transparency and accountability of training contributions made by employers utilising the skilled migration program. This will increase public confidence that skilled migration and the businesses that bring in skilled migrants are doing their part to help Australians prepare for the workforce.

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