Latest news with #CSIT
Sky News AU
19 hours ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
Shake-up to Australia's visa program as government raises income thresholds, targets student visas, and tightens skilled migration eligibility
Sweeping changes to visa thresholds and tighter controls on skilled worker and student entries are set to take place on Tuesday as the Albanese government is once again recalibrating Australia's migration settings. The Department of Home Affairs has confirmed a 4.6 per cent rise to key salary thresholds which determine eligibility for a raft of employer-sponsored skilled visas. From next financial year, the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) and the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) will jump from $73,150 to $76,515. For more specialised, high-earning roles, the bar will be even higher, with the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) lifting from $135,000 to $141,210. These thresholds apply to newly lodged applications from July 1, and cover some of the most common pathways for foreign workers - including the 482 temporary visa, 186 Employer Nomination Scheme, and the regional-focused 494 visa. Applications already in the system or existing visa holders won't be affected, but any new sponsor offers must now meet the updated salary requirements, excluding superannuation. The changes, based on Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings (AWOTE) figures, are being pitched as a way to ensure that migrant workers are being paid fairly in line with Australian wages. But for businesses already under pressure, the higher benchmarks could translate to budget headaches or hiring delays — especially in industries where salaries sit just above the threshold. To avoid being stung, businesses are being urged to act fast — submit applications before July, lock in current pay rates, and begin Labour Market Testing immediately to stay compliant. Missing that window could see employers caught in the post-June rush, with processing backlogs already common at the end of the financial year. But it's not just the skilled stream under the microscope. International students are staring down the barrel of another visa fee hike, with the cost for primary applicants likely to increase from $1,600 to $2,000. While the government hasn't published the change in official documentation yet, the move aligns with the government's wider effort to curb migration numbers. This would be the second price jump in as many years, following the 2023 surge which more than doubled the application fee. Education providers have expressed concern that it could deter genuine students while doing little to address the so-called 'visa churn' from non-genuine applicants. On the humanitarian side, the rules are getting clearer, if not tighter. Applicants under the Special Humanitarian Programme (SHP) and certain refugee streams must continue to lodge online through ImmiAccount and provide both the proposal (Form 681) and application (Form 842) at the same time. The Department has reaffirmed this as a mandatory step. All of this comes as Labor tries to project control over a migration system that's come under heavy political fire — amid rising rents, housing shortages, and infrastructure stress.
Irish Independent
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Drogheda & District miler Christopher Keenan achieves podium finish on World stage in Greece
Organised by the International Workers and Amateurs in Sports Confederation (CSIT), the WSG brought together approximately 6,000 amateur athletes from 36 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa and America to compete in a wide range of athletic events. Keenan is now officially one of the most talented middle distance runners in the country and this astonishing performance was all the more impressive given that he is so focused and dedicated on his full-time studies and got to Greece on the back of his usual training and a few races. His time was not shabby either as he clocked 4:05.89 for the metric mile. Closer to home, summer was in the air as several Drogheda & District AC athletes enjoyed the country lanes at the annual Patrick Bell & Nicky Philips 5K at Bohermeen on Saturday evening. There was a good turnout, but down on previous yearswhich is odd considering the course is well suited to fast times. The race was won by the in-form Sean Doran and fastest around the course for Drogheda was club favourite Paddy Murphy who ran a nice 19:16. Brian Carrig was just 30 seconds behind, making a good return to racing after a short gap, and Katheryn Meade also broke the 20-minute milestone. Colin Prone returned to racing and smartly took it easy, while Colin Cuffe found the course a little short after all the long miles he's been running so far this year, with both these athletes clocking just over the 20-minute mark. Helga McDonnell and Linda Byrne Cruise took second and third place category prizes respectively in times of 23:34 and 24:05, and with plenty of food and drinks after it was a night to remember. Elsewhere, there was much delight at the Dublin Graded Track and Field Meeting at Morton Stadium as talented track athlete Ernesto Saborio returned to the cauldron and made it count when he lit up the track two seconds quicker than his last outing in the 800m, running the distance in 2:04.46 which was good enough for third place. ADVERTISEMENT Saturday's Glenmore Challenge Running Festival on the Cooley Peninsula was enjoyed by several Drogheda & District athletes. Conditions were favourable on the day and Olivia Reilly (22:50), Louise Irvin (26:16), Gerard Maher (27:53), Lorraine Reilly (28:56) and Amy Gregory (28:59) ran the 5K, while Maria Ward (1:24:26) completed the 10K distance. Joe Carroll (1:21:14) and Mike Staunton (1:35:35) ran the 10-mile event. Moving to the south, Yasmin Canning took a category prize in the 800m at the Leinster Masters Championships in Carlow - her time 2min 43sec.
