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Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Act 2026

🇦🇺 Australia1 recorded versionLast change 10 Apr 2026

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Current rules

The Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Act 2026 is now in force. The legislation provides the legal framework for the public register of approved work sponsors. The register is intended to increase transparency around employer sponsorship.

Overview

Australia has enacted the Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Act 2026, which came into force on 8 April 2026. This legislation amends the Migration Act 1958, signalling a commitment to address migrant exploitation within the immigration system. It is administered by the Department of Home Affairs.

Who is affected by the latest change

Approved standard business sponsors
Approved accredited sponsors
Employers that nominate skilled migrant workers
Skilled migrant workers seeking employer sponsorship
Current sponsored workers
Prospective migrant workers researching potential sponsors
Organisations monitoring migrant worker exploitation
Government agencies responsible for migration compliance

What changed in the latest version

Before

Australia already had rules for approved sponsors and what employers had to do. But, information about employer sponsorship was not publicly available. There was no comprehensive sponsor register like this one. The new law creates a way to make relevant sponsorship information public.

After

The Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Act 2026 is now active. This law provides the legal way for the public list of approved work sponsors. The list aims to make employer sponsorship more open.

For migrant workers, employer sponsorship can create a power difference. This is because a worker's immigration status might depend on their job. The new register makes sponsorship activity easier to see. Workers may eventually use information about sponsors. This could be one way to research employers who have used Australia's skilled migration system before. For employers, sponsorship will become more public. Being on the register does not mean an employer is currently hiring. It does not mean they want to sponsor a specific worker. It also does not mean they can sponsor every job. So, this action makes things clearer. But it does not create a new way to get a visa. It also does not guarantee sponsorship for migrant workers.

Explained simply

Australia has made a new law called the 'Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Act 2026'. This law started on 8 April 2026, and its main goal is to stop people from taking advantage of or mistreating migrants who come to Australia. It changes an older law about migration to make things fairer for migrants.

Frequently asked

Version history

v1Effective 8 Apr 2026EffectiveHigh impact
Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Act 2026
Australia passed a new law. Its name is the Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Act 2026. This law started on 8 April 2026. It changes the Migration Act 1958. The changes are in Schedule 1 of the new law. The new law aims to stop people from exploiting migrants. Australia is the country where this law applies.

Timeline

Announced
8 Apr 2026
Australia has enacted the Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Act 2026, which came into force on 8 April 2026. This legislation amends the Migration Act 1958, signalling a commitment to address migrant exploitation within the immigration system. It is administered by the Department of Home Affairs.
Takes effect
8 Apr 2026
The Migration Act 1958 has been amended by Schedule 1 of the Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Act 2026. The specific nature of these amendments is not detailed in the provided text, but the Act's title suggests changes related to combatting migrant exploitation.

goborda provides monitoring and explanation of publicly available policy information. It is not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source or a licensed immigration professional before acting.