Ministerial migration roundtable - Communique

​State and Territory Ministers from across Australia met in Melbourne on 19 December 2023 at the inaugural Ministerial Migration Roundtable, to advance cooperation on Australia's migration planning and reaffirm commitments made in the Migration Strategy.

The Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, Hon Andrew Giles MP, chaired the Roundtable.

Minister Giles outlined reform set out in the Migration Strategy, which is supported by the Australian Government's existing commitments, new commitments and areas of future reform.

State and Territory Ministers supported the Australian Government's commitment to building a migration system that matches the needs of the nation and is fast, efficient and fair for migrants and employers.

State and Territory Ministers also reiterated their critical role in developing migration policy and settings, to ensure migration is responsive to skills needs of local economies, employers and communities.

Ministers recognised a decision made by National Cabinet on 16 August 2023 to better coordinate Australia's migration settings.

Ministers agreed that extending the outlook of the Migration Program through a multi-year planning model will better align migration planning with skills priorities, population, infrastructure, housing and services planning, across all levels of government.

Minister Giles outlined key outcomes achieved through a cross-jurisdictional Working Group, which was established by the Department of Home Affairs to jointly develop the multi-year planning model.

Ministers endorsed key principles to guide the development of the multi-year planning model and supported a model which would provide greater certainty and transparency around state and territory nomination allocations.

Ministers also welcomed opportunities for jurisdictions to work closely with the Department of Home Affairs to consider revitalised State Migration Plans as a possible means of implementing a revised nomination allocations approach.

Ministers discussed the range of visa categories to address skill shortages and improve economic outcomes. 

Ministers will engage in further discussions regarding potential reform actions in the Migration Strategy. These discussions aim to address skills needs and shortages, through a well targeted migration system. This includes the planned consultation on regional migration and the Working Holiday Maker program due to commence in early 2024.

State and Territory Ministers also emphasised the urgency to meet current skills shortages while the actions in the Migration Strategy are being progressed.

Finally, Ministers agreed to bi-annual meetings to strengthen collaboration on migration settings, including with the Skills and Workforce Ministerial Council.

Endorsed key principles

Working together: The Commonwealth, States, and Territories work together to identify Australia's migration needs and priorities and to deliver a seamless migration experience.

Positive contribution: Migration programs optimise a positive contribution to Australia's social cohesion and economy and ensure skilled migration programs fill demonstrable skill gaps that are unable to be met domestically.

Regional focus: Migration programs must help to ensure that regional Australia benefits from comprehensive migration and population planning.

Aligned investments: Migration programs are aligned with investments in infrastructure, service provision and housing.

Population planning alignment: Migration planning is aligned with Commonwealth, State, and Territory population planning.

Transparency: Greater collaboration across governments around data-sharing, skills shortage evaluation tools and other capabilities supports transparent and evidence-based decision making.

Flexibility: Migration planning has flexibility to respond to domestic and global economic fluctuations, geopolitical events and program management considerations.