EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Migration Regulations 1994

MIGRATION OCCUPATIONS IN DEMAND

(REGULATION 1.03)

1. This Instrument is made under regulations 1.17 and 1.03 of the Migration Regulations 1994 (‘the Regulations’).
2. Regulation 1.17 of the Regulations provides that the Minister may, by notice published in the Gazette, specify matters required by individual provisions of the Regulations to be specified for the purposes of those provisions.
3. Regulation 1.03 of the Regulations defines the term “migration occupation in demand” to mean a skilled occupation that is specified by Gazette Notice as a migration occupation in demand.
4. The purpose of the Instrument is to specify skilled occupations as migration occupations in demand for the purposes of the definition of “migration occupation in demand” in regulation 1.03 of the Regulations.  The Instrument specifies occupations according to the Australian Standard Classification of Occupations (ASCO) classification system.
5. The Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) is a mechanism used to facilitate the entry of migrants under the General Skilled Migration (GSM) Program who have particular specialist skills and where there is an ongoing demand in the Australian labour market for these skills.  Applicants applying for a GSM permanent points tested visa who nominate an occupation on the MODL benefit as their application receives priority processing and they receive an additional 15 or 20 points (if they have a full time job offer) under the general points test. 
6. Consultation was undertaken with the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) to update the MODL.  Information provided by DEWR is based on DEWR’s skills-in-demand research.  This Instrument adds 10 occupations to the MODL three professional, one information and communication technology occupation and six trade occupations.  One trade occupation has been removed from the MODL.  

7. This Instrument, IMMI 07/008, commences on 30 July 2007.