Sourab Group Pty Ltd (Migration)

[2021] AATA 4699

Sourab Group Pty Ltd (Migration) [2021] AATA 4699 (25 October 2021)

DECISION RECORD

DIVISION:Migration & Refugee Division

APPLICANT:  Sourab Group Pty Ltd

CASE NUMBER:  1914842

HOME AFFAIRS REFERENCE(S):          BCC2017/4683903

MEMBER:Michael Cooke

DATE:25 October 2021

PLACE OF DECISION:  Sydney

DECISION:The Tribunal sets aside the decision under review and substitutes a decision approving the nomination.

Statement made on 25 October 2021 at 11:43am

CATCHWORDS
MIGRATION–nomination – Cook – Direct Entry nomination stream – no adverse information – position associated with the nominated occupation is genuine – genuine need for the nominator to employ a paid employee –applicant lawfully operating a business in Australia–decision under review set aside

LEGISLATION
Migration Act 1958, ss 65, 245AR, 359
Migration Regulations 1994, r 5.19

STATEMENT OF DECISION AND REASONS

APPLICATION FOR REVIEW

1. This is an application for review of a decision made by a delegate of the Minister for Home Affairs on 22 May 2019 to reject the applicant’s application for approval of the nomination of a position in Australia under reg 5.19 of the Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth) (the Regulations).

2. The applicant applied for approval on 8 December 2017. The requirements for the approval of the nomination of a position in Australia are found in reg 5.19 of the Regulations which contains two alternative streams: a Temporary Residence Transition nomination stream (reg 5.19(3)) and a Direct Entry nomination stream (reg 5.19(4)). If the application is made in accordance with reg 5.19(2) and meets the requirements of either stream, then the application must be approved. If any of the requirements are not met then the application must be refused: reg 5.19(5).

3. In this case, the applicant has applied for approval of a nomination, seeking to satisfy the criteria in the Direct Entry nomination stream.

4. The delegate refused the application on the basis the applicant’s nomination did not satisfy reg. 5.19(4)(h) because the delegate was not satisfied that there was a genuine need for the nominated position of a Cook in the nominator’s business operations.

5. The applicant was represented in relation to the review by a migration agent.  His representative forwarded additional information to the Tribunal following a request for information pursuant to s.359(2).

6. For the following reasons, the Tribunal has decided to set aside the decision under review and substitute a decision approving the nomination.

   CONSIDERATION OF CLAIMS AND EVIDENCE

7. The issue in this case is whether the applicant meets the requirements for approval of the nomination under the Direct Entry nomination stream set out in reg 5.19(4), which is extracted in the attachment to this decision. For the nomination to be approved, all the requirements must be met.

   The application is compliant: reg 5.19(4)(a)

8. Regulation 5.19(4)(a) requires that the application for approval must be in the approved form, must be accompanied by the prescribed fee, and, where applicable, must include the required written certification relating to conduct that contravenes s 245AR(1). The application must also identify a need for the nominator to employ an identified person as a paid employee to work in the position under their direct control.

   Findings and reasons relating to whether the application for approval:

   ·was made on the approved form 1395, or 1395 (Internet) for post 23 March 2013 applications, and was accompanied by the fee prescribed in reg 5.37;

   ·for applications made from 14 December 2015 – includes a written certification stating whether the nominator has engaged in conduct in relation to the nomination that contravenes s 245AR(1); and

   ·identifies a need for the nominator to employ an identified person as a paid employee to work in the position under the nominator’s direct control.

9. The Tribunal finds from information before it that the above information has been submitted.

10. Accordingly, the requirement in reg 5.19(4)(a) is met.

    Nominator is actively and lawfully operating a business in Australia: reg 5.19(4)(b)

11. Regulation 5.19(4)(b) requires that the applicant is actively, lawfully and directly operating a business in Australia.

12. The Tribunal finds from evidence before it that the nominator:

    ·is actively and lawfully operating a business in Australia

    ·directly operates that business

13. Accordingly, the requirement in reg 5.19(4)(b) is met.

    Position is not labour hire: reg 5.19(4)(c)

14. Regulation 5.19(4)(c) applies to nominators whose business activities include those relating to labour hire to an unrelated business. In these cases, the nominated position must be within the business activities of the nominator:

15. The Tribunal finds that that the nominator is not involved in labour hire activities.

16. Accordingly, the requirement in reg 5.19(4)(c) does not apply.

    Term of employment of the visa holder: reg 5.19(4)(d)

17. Regulation 5.19(4)(d) requires the nominee to be employed in the nominated position for at least 2 years full time, and the terms and conditions of that employment do not expressly exclude the possibility of an extension. 

18. The Tribunal finds that the nominee is to be employed in the nominated position for at least 2 years full time, and the terms and conditions of that employment do not expressly exclude the possibility of an extension. 

19. Accordingly, the requirement in reg 5.19(4)(d) is met.

    No less favourable terms and conditions of employment: reg 5.19(4)(e)

20. Regulation 5.19(4)(e) requires that the terms and conditions of employment applicable to the nominated position will be no less favourable than those that are, or would be, provided to an Australian citizen or permanent resident performing equivalent work in the same workplace at the same location.

21. The Tribunal finds, from the evidence before it, that the terms and condition applicable to the position will be no less favourable than those that are/would be provided to an Australian citizen or permanent resident performing equivalent work in the same workplace at the same location.

22. Accordingly, the requirements of reg 5.19(4)(e) are met.

    No adverse information known to Immigration: reg 5.19(4)(f)

23. Regulation 5.19(4)(f) requires that there is no adverse information known to Immigration about the nominator or person associated with the nominator; or it is reasonable to disregard any such information. For these purposes, ‘adverse information’ and ‘associated with’ have the meaning given in regs 1.13A and 1.13B.

24. The Tribunal finds that there is no adverse information known to the Department about the nominator or a person ‘associated with’ the nominator

25. Accordingly, the requirements of reg 5.19(4)(f) are met.

    Satisfactory compliance with workplace relations laws: reg 5.19(4)(g)

26. Regulation 5.19(4)(g) requires that the applicant has a satisfactory record of compliance with the laws of the Commonwealth, and of each State or Territory in which the applicant operates a business and employs employees in the business, relating to workplace relations.

27. The Tribunal has no information before it which indicates that the applicant has a less than satisfactory record of compliance with workplace relations laws in the locations in which it operates a business and employs staff.

28. Accordingly, the requirements of reg 5.19(4)(g) are met.

    Tasks of the position, genuine need for the position and training requirements reg 5.19(4)(h)

29. Regulation 5.19(4)(h) contains a number of alternative requirements. These are set out in detail in the attachment to the decision but can be briefly summarised as requiring that:

    ·the position and nominator’s business is located in regional Australia, there is a genuine need for the nominee to be employed as a paid employee in the position under the nominator’s direct control, the position cannot be filled by a locally resident Australian citizen or permanent resident, the tasks of the position correspond to those of an occupation specified in the relevant legislative instrument, the occupation is applicable to the proposed employee in accordance with the specification of the occupation, and that a regional certifying body has advised the Minister about certain matters relating to the position.

30. The Tribunal finds from information supplied by the Regional Certifying Body officer who issued the certificate that all of the following apply:

    ·the position and business is located in ‘regional Australia’ (Moree NSW);

    ·there is a genuine need for the nominator to employ the person identified under reg 5.19(4)(a)(ii) as a paid employee to work in the position under the nominator’s direct control;

    ·the position cannot be filled by an Australian citizen or permanent resident who is living in the same local area;

    ·the tasks to be performed in the position (Cook) correspond to the tasks of an occupation specified by Instrument (see the Register of Instruments - Business Visas);

    ·A Regional Certifying Body – Regional Development Australia Northern Inland Inc of Armidale (which is located in the same State as the position) has advised the Minister about the matters in reg 5.19(4)(e) and reg 5.19(4)(h)(ii)(B) & (C).

31. Accordingly, the requirements of reg 5.19(4)(h) are met.

32. Based on the findings above, the Tribunal is satisfied that the applicant meets the requirements of reg 5.19 for approval of the nomination of the position in Australia.

    DECISION

33. The Tribunal sets aside the decision under review and substitutes a decision approving the nomination.

    Michael Cooke
    Senior Member

    
    

    ATTACHMENT  -  EXTRACTS FROM THE MIGRATION REGULATIONS 1994

    5.19Approval of nominated positions (employer nomination)

    …

    (2)The application must:

    (a)be made in accordance with approved form 1395…; and

    (aa) include a written certification by the nominator stating whether or not the nominator has engaged in conduct, in relation to the nomination, that constitutes a contravention of subsection 245AR(1) of the Act; and

    (b)be accompanied by the fee mentioned in regulation 5.37.

    …

    Direct Entry nomination

    (4)The Minister must, in writing, approve a nomination if:

    (a)the application for approval:

    (i)       is made in accordance with subregulation (2); and

    (ii)      identifies a need for the nominator to employ a paid employee to work in the position under the nominator’s direct control; and

    (b)the nominator:

    (i)       is actively and lawfully operating a business in Australia; and

    (ii)      directly operates the business; and

    (c)for a nominator whose business activities include activities relating to the hiring of labour to other unrelated businesses — the position is within the business activities of the nominator and not for hire to other unrelated businesses; and

    (d)both of the following apply:

    (i)       the employee will be employed on a full-time basis in the position for at least 2 years;

    (ii)      the terms and conditions of the employee’s employment will not include an express exclusion of the possibility of extending the period of employment; and

    (e)the terms and conditions of employment applicable to the position will be no less favourable than the terms and conditions that:

    (i)       are provided; or

    (ii)      would be provided;

    to an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident for performing equivalent work in the same workplace at the same location; and

    (f)either:

    (i)       there is no adverse information known to Immigration about the nominator or a person associated with the nominator; or

    (ii)      it is reasonable to disregard any adverse information known to Immigration about the nominator or a person associated with the nominator; and

    (g)the nominator has a satisfactory record of compliance with the laws of the Commonwealth, and of each State or Territory in which the applicant operates a business and employs employees in the business, relating to workplace relations; and

    (h)either:

    (i)       all of the following apply:

    (A)the tasks to be performed in the position will be performed in Australia and correspond to the tasks of an occupation specified by the Minister in an instrument in writing for this sub-subparagraph;

    (AA)there is a genuine need for the nominator to employ the person identified under subparagraph (a)(ii), as a paid employee, to work in the position under the nominator’s direct control;

    (AAA)the occupation is applicable to the person identified under subparagraph (a)(ii) in accordance with the specification of the occupation;

    (B)either:

    (I)the nominator’s business has operated for at least 12 months, and the nominator meets the requirements for the training of Australian citizens and Australian permanent residents that are specified by the Minister in an instrument in writing for this sub-sub-subparagraph; or

    (II)the nominator’s business has operated for less than 12 months, and the nominator has an auditable plan for meeting the requirements specified in the instrument mentioned in sub-sub-subparagraph (I); or

    (ii)      all of the following apply:

    (A)the position is located in regional Australia;

    (B)there is a genuine need for the nominator to employ the person identified under subparagraph (a)(ii), as a paid employee, to work in the position under the nominator’s direct control;

    (C)the position cannot be filled by an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident who is living in the same local area as that place;

    (D)the tasks to be performed in the position correspond to the tasks of an occupation specified by the Minister in an instrument in writing for this sub-subparagraph;

    (DA)the occupation is applicable to the person identified under subparagraph (a)(ii) in accordance with the specification of the occupation;

    (E)the business operated by the nominator is located at that place;

    (F)a body that is:

    (I)specified by the Minister in an instrument in writing for this sub-subparagraph; and

    (II)located in the same State or Territory as the location of the position;

    has advised the Minister about the matters mentioned in paragraph (e) and sub-subparagraphs (B) and (C).