A range of important real estate roles are on the skilled visa list, but critics have questioned whether there is a need to import these skills.
Australia’s migration system has come under fire after a bombshell skills list revealed a rollcall of occupations critics say the nation doesn’t need to import.
The Home Affairs working visa skills list is being slammed after it emerged that estate agents, auctioneers, singers, golfers and even deer hunters were eligible for skilled migration pathways.
Other listed occupations flagged as “questionable” choices for roles for the country to import included historian, tennis coach, umpire, lifeguard, dog handler, picture framer and dancer.
Further occupations questioned were sign writer, property manager, turf grower, acupuncturist, grape grower, pet groomer, drama teacher, homoeopath and more.
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Dancers are on the skilled list and, with enough points, can get permanent visas independent of a company.
These professions were permitted varying types of visas, most commonly company-sponsored visas that provided a route to permanent residency. Others like dancers, gym coaches, acupuncturists and tennis coaches, could be granted permanent visas allowing them to live and work in Australia without sponsorship.
Housing advocates have queried how importing some of the flagged workers helps a country grappling with a chronic housing shortage, soaring rents and an ailing construction sector.
Real estate agents, auctioneers and property managers, professions that undeniably require people skills and sales nous, have drawn particular fire.
Critics noted that until recently it was possible to obtain certification to be a NSW agent in as little as four days, in some instances.
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Home building is falling short of national housing targets, with labour shortages one of the reasons.
It usually takes roughly a year’s training, with additional work experience, to get certification in the current system across many real estate markets.
Aaron Scott, founder of comparison group Bright Agent, said some of the skills list occupations were “questionable”, adding that real estate agents were one of them.
“We run a real estate agent comparison service … we definitely don’t need to be importing more auctioneers or real estate agents – there’s already one on every corner,” he said.
“Perhaps it’s time for a re-look at the Skilled Occupation List … especially during a domestic housing crisis.”
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The skilled list includes lifeguards – a vital role, but some have questioned whether there was a genuine need to import this skill.
Mr Scott said it was worth asking if there was a genuine need for certain skills that could not be addressed with local talent.
“I’m not saying we don’t need locksmiths, sports umpires, or picture framers, but do we really need to import them during a domestic housing crisis?”
“Does Australia not have enough clowns, gardeners or pet groomers? When was the last time someone arrived on an urgent Deer Farmer visa?”
It comes as Australia struggles to build enough homes to keep pace with population growth, with federal and state governments promising hundreds of thousands of new dwellings.
These targets are currently not being met, with building experts revealing key labour shortages were a contributing factor.
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Daniel Wild, from conservative think tank, the Institute of Public Affairs said the migration system needed an overhaul.
Institute of Public Affairs deputy executive direction Daniel Wild said Australia’s migration system was worsening housing shortages and needed an overhaul.
“Instead of bringing in more skilled tradesmen to help build more houses, industry figures show that as little as 3.6 per cent of the Temporary Skills Shortage visas granted in the year to June 2024 were for workers with key home building skills,” Mr Wild said.
“This demonstrates perfectly how little skills matter in Australia’s migration system.”
Mr Wild noted the latest ABS figures showed approximately 35 per cent of migrants that came to Australia last financial year came on a student visa and approximately 30 per cent came on a working holiday or a visitor visa.
Dog handlers are on the skills list with a path to permanent residency.
“Australians should not be fooled into believing our migration system is skills based. In fact, skilled migration accounted for less than one quarter of all net overseas migration in the last financial year,” he said.
“Australia has always been a welcoming country; however, a successful migration program must be properly planned for, have the consent of the community, and be targeted toward areas of economic need. The federal government’s approach to migration is failing on all three counts.”
Australia’s Home Affairs Department was contacted for comment.
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