Migration Amendment (Caveats) Specification 2024

Administered by Department of Home Affairs

Legislation au F2024L01625 Not in force Legislative Instrument

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EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Issued by authority of the Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs

Migration Regulations 1994

Migration Amendment (Caveats) Specification 2024

The instrument Migration Amendment (Caveats) Specification 2024 (LIN 24/108) is made under the Migration Regulations 1994 (the Migration Regulations).

The instrument amends:

  • the Migration (Specification of Occupations and Assessing Authorities—Subclass 186 Visa) Instrument 2024 (LIN 24/093); and
  • the Migration (Specification of Occupations—Subclass 482 Visa) Instrument 2024 (LIN 24/089);

in accordance with subsection 33(3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (the Acts Interpretation Act). That subsection of the Acts Interpretation Act provides that a power to make a legislative instrument includes a power to amend or repeal that instrument in the same manner, and subject to the same conditions, as the power to make the instrument.

Section 2 of the instrument provides for its commencement. Sections 1 to 4 commence on 7 December 2024 (at the start of the day). The amendments in Schedules 1 and 2 commence immediately after the commencement of LIN 24/093 and LIN 24/089 respectively.

Purpose

The purpose of the instrument is to amend LIN 24/093 and LIN 24/089 to establish an additional caveat in the relevant section of each instrument, to apply in relation to the occupation “Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers nec” (ANZSCO code 149999). Where an occupation appears on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), it will be subject to applicable circumstances (caveats) that are detailed in LIN 24/093 or LIN 24/089 (as the case may be) as identified against the occupation appearing on the CSOL and its corresponding applicable circumstance. The effect of the amendments made by LIN 24/108 is to make clear that where a position is a brothel keeper, that position is not covered by the occupation “Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers nec”.

The Office of Impact Analysis (OIA) has been consulted in relation to the CSOL and related reforms generally. The OIA consultation reference number is OIA24-08631. The Department of Home Affairs has consulted on the Migration Strategy with business, unions and other stakeholders throughout the Migration Review. Whole of Government consultation occurred, along with consultation involving peak body, State and Territory and industry representatives via the Ministerial Advisory Council on Skilled Migration (MACSM) and Senior Migration Officers Group (SMOG).

Details of the instrument

Section 1 sets out the name of the instrument.

Section 2 provides for the commencement of the instrument.

Section 3 provides that the instrument is made under the Migration Regulations 1994.

Section 4 provides that the instruments specified in a Schedule to the instrument are amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned.

Schedule 1—Amendments of LIN 24/093

Schedule 1 to the instrument amends the Migration (Specification of Occupations and Assessing Authorities—Subclass 186 Visa) Instrument 2024.

Item 1 inserts reference to new caveat item 16 in item 47 of the table under subsection 7(1). This has the effect of applying the caveat, inserted by item 2, in relation to the position “brothel keeper” in relation to the occupation “Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers nec”.

Item 2 adds the new caveat “The position is a brothel keeper” at the end of the table under section 8 of the instrument.

The effect of these amendments is to make clear that if a position is a “brothel keeper”, it is not covered by the occupation “Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers nec” for the purposes of LIN 24/093 and the related provisions of the Migration Regulations.

Schedule 2—Amendments of LIN 24/089

Schedule 2 to the instrument amends the Migration (Specification of Occupations—Subclass 482 Visa) Instrument 2024.

Item 1 inserts reference to new caveat item 16 in item 47 of the table under subsection 6(3). This has the effect of applying the caveat, inserted by item 2, in relation to the position “brothel keeper” in relation to the occupation “Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers nec”.

Item 2 adds the new caveat “The position is a brothel keeper” at the end of the table under subsection 7(2) of the instrument.

The effect of these amendments is to make clear that if a position is a “brothel keeper”, it is not covered by the occupation “Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers nec” for the purposes of LIN 24/089 and the related provisions of the Migration Regulations.

Parliamentary scrutiny etc.

The instrument is exempt from disallowance under section 42 of the Legislation Act to the extent that it is made under subregulation 5.19(11) and paragraph 186.234(2)(a) of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations. This is because the powers to make a legislative instrument under these provisions are covered by the exemption provided for in table item 20(b) of section 10 of the Legislation (Exemptions and Other Matters) Regulation 2015 (LEOMR). To the extent that the instrument amends LIN 24/089, the instrument is disallowable as it relies on the power under subregulation 2.72(9) of the Migration Regulations, which is not covered by an exemption provided for in the LEOMR.

The instrument was made by the Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs in accordance the Migration Regulations.

Overview

The Migration Amendment (Caveats) Specification 2024, made under the Migration Regulations 1994, was enacted to address a gap in the regulation of skilled migration by clarifying the scope of certain occupations listed under the subclass 186 and subclass 482 visas. Specifically, it introduces a caveat to exclude positions that involve brothel keeping from the occupation category "Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers nec" (ANZSCO code 149999). This legislative amendment was developed in consultation with the Office of Impact Analysis and various stakeholders, including business, unions, and industry representatives, as part of a broader migration strategy. The primary policy objective is to ensure that skilled migration regulations accurately reflect the intended scope of occupations, thereby maintaining the integrity of the visa programs. The instrument was issued by the Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs and is exempt from disallowance under certain conditions, with exceptions noted for provisions amending the Migration (Specification of Occupations—Subclass 482 Visa) Instrument 2024.

Scope and Application

The Migration Amendment (Caveats) Specification 2024 amends the Migration (Specification of Occupations and Assessing Authorities—Subclass 186 Visa) Instrument 2024 and the Migration (Specification of Occupations—Subclass 482 Visa) Instrument 2024 to establish an additional caveat for the occupation "Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers nec" (ANZSCO code 149999). This caveat clarifies that positions classified as "brothel keeper" are excluded from the occupation category. The instrument applies to entities and individuals involved in the visa application processes under the specified subclasses, particularly those who fall under the occupation of Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers. The geographic reach of this amendment is national, as it pertains to the Migration Regulations 1994, which have a Commonwealth jurisdiction. The instrument does not explicitly state any exclusions or exemptions, but it is subject to disallowance except for the extent that it is made under certain subregulations of the Migration Regulations, as detailed in the Explanatory Statement. Subordinate instruments may further extend or restrict the application of this legislation as needed.

Key Provisions

The Migration Amendment (Caveats) Specification 2024 (LIN 24/108) primarily amends two instruments, the Migration (Specification of Occupations and Assessing Authorities—Subclass 186 Visa) Instrument 2024 (LIN 24/093) and the Migration (Specification of Occupations—Subclass 482 Visa) Instrument 2024 (LIN 24/089). It introduces a new caveat for the occupation "Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers nec" (ANZSCO code 149999). Specifically, it clarifies that positions classified as "brothel keeper" are not covered under this occupation (Section 4). This amendment ensures that the caveat applies in both LIN 24/093 and LIN 24/089, thereby affecting the eligibility criteria for certain visa subclasses. The legislation imposes obligations on applicants, employers, and assessing authorities to correctly identify and apply the caveats as specified. For example, applicants for the Subclass 186 and Subclass 482 visas must ensure that their positions do not fall under the caveat of being a "brothel keeper" to be eligible under the occupation "Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers nec". Employers must also comply with these caveats when nominating skilled workers for these visas, ensuring that their positions are accurately classified and not exempt due to the caveat. Assessing authorities, on the other hand, have the responsibility to verify that the positions nominated comply with the specified caveats and that all required documentation is provided accurately. The Migration Amendment (Caveats) Specification 2024 does not directly outline specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breaches of its provisions. However, the underlying Migration Regulations 1994 and related instruments may impose penalties for incorrect applications, misrepresentations, or fraudulent activities. Under the Migration Act 1958, penalties for misleading or deceptive conduct can include fines and imprisonment. For instance, knowingly providing false information could result in fines of up to $22,200 and/or imprisonment for up to 2 years. Additionally, individuals or entities found to be involved in fraudulent activities related to visa applications may face more severe penalties, including higher fines and extended imprisonment terms.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.