MODL Review

The Australian Government announce TODAY (14th August 2009), that they are calling for comments on their intention to review the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL).

The Government have said – quote:-

“The evaluation process will be a major step in constructing a framework for migration which will meet Australia’s longer term economic, social and demographic needs.

The MODL review will assess the central skills targeting mechanism for the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program. The MODL was introduced to target the GSM program, to applicants who had skills in occupations and specialisations in short supply in Australia.”

This will also coincide with the release of the ANZSCO (Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations), which will take over from the ASCO, which has been used for the past 40 years.  This review will examine and report on the implementation of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) for migration purposes and the implications and timing of its application to MODL and the Critical Skills List.

The Government then went on to say:-

“The changes to the MODL will not affect the ability of Australian industry to meet its skill needs through the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) and Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS). Other arrangements currently in place, including the Critical Skills List (and the priority processing arrangements), will continue until the outcomes of the MODL review are finalised.”.

A couple of questions which have been raised and answered by the Government are:-

When will the new MODL be implemented?

The arrangements for the transition to the new MODL will be determined once the outcomes of the review are finalised.

The Critical Skills List will remain in place while the review is in progress and then be phased out following the implementation of any recommendations flowing from the review.

What will happen to priority processing of CSL applications?

Occupations which are listed on the CSL receive priority processing, which assists the targeting of the migration program. These arrangements will continue until the review is finalised. Once the review is finalised, arrangements for phasing out the CSL will be announced.

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