No word from Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke on the leaked memo.

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The federal government is planning a major immigration policy shake-up in a bid to fight the country’s construction skills and housing shortages, according to a leaked memo on the Department of Home Affairs website.

Ministerial Direction No. 109 appeared briefly on the department’s website earlier this month before being removed after just a few hours.

The September 19 memo detailed plans to prioritise construction workers for skilled visa processing, a process reserved previously for healthcare and teaching professionals only.

No formal announcement from Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has since been made.

Geoff Howison, managing director of construction employment solutions company Now Careers, said there was a critical need for skilled construction workers to meet current demand.

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Mr Howison believes including construction occupations such as architects, welders, electricians, and structural engineers in the top visa priority list was essential to address the acute labour shortages that affected housing projects nationwide.

“While we await the official announcement, it is clear that the government recognises the severe shortage of skilled construction workers,” Mr Howison said.

“The inclusion of construction workers as a priority reflects the enormous demand for labour in our sector, driven by housing shortages and infrastructure development projects.”

Now Careers managing director Geoff Howison

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A potenital immigration policy shift comes as Australia’s construction industry grappling with significant delays and escalating costs due to inadequate skilled labour, severely impacting major housing and infrastructure projects.

Mr Howison said prioritising construction workers through skilled migration could fast-track building projects, potentially stabilising house prices and easing economic strains on everyday Aussies.

Apart from targeting specific construction trades, the Ministerial Direction No. 109 leak also indicated visa applications lodged by individuals already in Australia would be prioritised over offshore applications.

The government’s new policy could ease housing shortages – with an impending announcement expected soon. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

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Healthcare and teaching would remain priority sectors under the leaked plan.

While the Australian construction sector would welcome any changes to increase the number of available skilled workers, Mr Howison said the concern had raised concerns across the industry.

Mr Howison said the fact the updated migration policy was posted online without any formal communication from the government left many stakeholders confused about the current status of their visa applications.

The Department of Home Affairs has been contacted for comment.

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