457 Visa change to impact fitness, tourism and hospitality

The announcement by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull that the current 457 visa system is to be abolished and replaced with a new scheme, is likely to have an impact across the leisure industry with a range of professions in entertainment, fitness, hospitality, sport, tourism and venue management now excluded from the program.

The changes will see the introduction of a new scheme made up of two streams: one short term (issued for two years) and one medium term (issued for up to four years for “more focused occupation lists”).

Both of these will be subject to labour market testing including a requirement for two years of work experience, a market salary rate assessment and a new non-discriminatory workforce test.

With the fitness industry employing personal trainers and club managers under the current scheme, Soulful Fitness Managing Director Amanda Bracks wrote of her concern on Facebook, stating "removal of the 457 visas for (the) fitness industry will be a disgrace."

While fitness club managers may be included in the new visa scheme, categories including ‘sport administrator’, ‘registered club manager’, ‘caravan park and camping ground manager’, ‘cinema/theatre manager’, ‘amusement centre manager’, ‘park ranger’ and ‘sports umpire’ will be excluded.

In response to the proposed changes, the Australian Hotels Association (AHA) called on the Federal Government to consider the specific needs of the tourism and hospitality sector in the design of a new temporary working visa system.

AHA said it’s important for the government to recognise the specific skilled labour needs of the tourism and hospitality sector, currently undergoing its largest ever expansion.

AHA Chief Executive Stephen Ferguson commented that the “industry is growing at unprecedented rates at the present and the demand for skilled labour is at all-time highs with this complete transformation of Australia’s hotel industry.

“Australia’s hospitality sector has responded with a wide range of training and career development programs, but with such a rapid increase in tourism it is impossible to meet the demand for skilled labour in the short-term through local channels, especially in regional and remote Australia.

AHA (WA) Chief Executive Bradley Woods welcomed Prime Minister Turnbull’s announcement, claiming that the new Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) visa will continue to support businesses experiencing genuine skills shortages.

Woods stated “the new visa system appears to strike the balance between supporting young Australians who are looking for work and supporting businesses who can’t find enough skilled locals to fill positions.

“The new visas also remove the pathway to permanent residency for low skilled workers.”

The current Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457) is a visa for foreign citizens, which "lets a skilled worker travel to Australia to work in their nominated occupation for their approved sponsor for up to four years."

Workers have to be sponsored by an Australian business, with the business having to prove they couldn't find a suitable Australian worker to fill the job.

Images: Park ranger (top) and hospitality (below) 457 visas will be affected by the changes. Images used for illustrative purposes only.

28th September 2016 - BACKPACKER TAX CHANGE TREATS TOURISM AS A ‘CASH COW’

5th November 2015 - STAFF AND SKILLS SHORTAGE IMPACTS TOURISM BUSINESSES 

23rd June 2015 - WILLIAM ANGLISS INSTITUTE WELCOMES HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT BOOST

10th March 2015 - 14 MILLION JOBS AT RISK DUE TO GLOBAL TOURISM TALENT SHORTAGE

13th August 2014 - FITNESS INDUSTRY SURVEY IDENTIFIES POTENTIAL OF PERSONAL TRAINING 

2rd August 2013 - ATEC WELCOMES SEASONAL WORKER EXTENSION

15th July 2012 - INDUSTRY STAFF SHORTAGE LOOMS AS WORKERS HEAD TO MINES

9th March 2012 - GROWING DEMANDS FOR PERSONAL TRAINERS

31st January 2012 - LABOUR AGREEMENT TO ASSIST TOURISM OPERATORS

8th September 2011 - TOURISM NEEDS LABOUR AND SKILLS 

12th June 2008 - SKILLS SHORTAGES HIT SPORT AND RECREATION