Australian Budget 2022-23 Immigration

[TeeTMI]

2022-23 Budget - the Minister of Home Affairs has made the following statement in respect of Immigration  (https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/AlexHawke/Pages/2022-23-budget-release.aspx)

The 2022-23 permanent Migration Program ceiling will be 160,000 places.  A return to a pre-pandemic composition of roughly two-thirds/one-third across the Skill and Family streams. 
The budget details changes to a number of visa programs, including taking 10,000 places from the partner visa category and adding these to the skilled visa category. Skill stream places will increase from the 2021-22 planning levels to 109,900, and account for around 70 per cent of the permanent Migration Program.

Migration – Skill stream
The Skill stream will increase to 109,900, more than 30,000 places above 2021-22 planning levels.
Within the Skill stream the categories of Employer Sponsored (30,000 places), Skilled Independent (16,652 places) and State & Territory Nominated (20,000 places) have all been increased from 2021-22 planning levels.
Regional visas will more than double to 25,000 places to support growth in regional Australia.
Business Innovation and Investment (9,500 places), Global Talent (8,448 places) and Distinguished Talent (300 places) categories will ensure that Australia remains a favoured destination for the world’s best and brightest individuals and entrepreneurs.
Occupation lists will be reviewed and updated in early 2022-23 to reflect changes in Australia’s labour market, based on advice from the National Skills Commission.

Migration – Family stream
The Family stream will provide an estimated 50,000 places to support family reunion.
The Partner and Child visa categories are estimated to deliver 40,500 and 3,000 visas respectively (delivery of Partner and Child visas will be subject to demand and visa processing requirements);
while 6,000 places will be available for Parent visas; and 500 places for Other Family visas.
100 places will be allocated for the Special Eligibility category. This stream covers visas for those in special circumstances, including permanent residents returning to Australia after a period overseas.
From 2022-23, Partner visa processing will move to a demand driven model.  Granting Partner visas on a demand driven basis will provide the flexibility to meet demand for Partner visas in a given program year, and assist in mitigating future growth in the Partner visa pipeline, while maintaining immigration integrity.