AustraliaMigrate, a registered migration agency established in 2000, has published an examination of the Australian Government's planned reform of the skilled migration points test. The reform was confirmed in the 2026–27 Federal Budget, with consultation opening in June 2026 and draft legislation expected by December 2026. This analysis highlights the potential impact on applicants for the Skilled Independent (subclass 189), Skilled Nominated (subclass 190), and Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visas.

The Government has stated that the redesigned test will give greater weight to younger, highly educated, and higher-skilled applicants. This shift follows recommendations from the 2023 Migration Strategy and subsequent Treasury and Home Affairs reviews. The points test determines which applicants receive invitations for these skilled visa categories.

Key Areas Under Review

According to the AustraliaMigrate examination, several specific areas are under review. The analysis indicates that the following factors are likely to be adjusted:

Strategic Implications for Applicants

Ian Singer, Director and Principal Registered Migration Agent at AustraliaMigrate, described the reform as the most substantial redesign of the points test in over a decade. He noted that applicants who currently score well on partner points, older age bands, or overlapping study and work claims cannot assume those points will survive the redesign.

The examination advises that applications and invitations issued under the current test are assessed under the rules in force at the time. Therefore, eligible candidates are encouraged to complete their skills assessment, sit their English test, and lodge an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect without waiting for the new structure.

Program Context and Advice

The reform occurs within the context of a tighter migration program. The 2026–27 program holds 185,000 permanent places, with around 55,000 reserved for offshore applicants. Net overseas migration is forecast to keep falling. AustraliaMigrate emphasizes that preparation quality will separate successful applicants from the rest and advises candidates to treat the current program year as the window in which the rules are known.

Australia's online platforms are failing to implement the initial age verification steps required by a new law, rendering a world-first teen social media ban ineffective, according to a study by the team that advised the government's rollout. The research found that platforms sought no age proof for any of 50 test accounts where the user declared their age as 16. This failure occurs despite the law mandating that operators take "reasonable steps" to verify user age.

Since December, Australia's social media legislation has required platforms including Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube to prevent individuals under 16 years from holding accounts. The government has recommended the use of multiple verification checks to determine user age accurately. However, the study indicates that these recommended measures are not being applied at the entry point of account creation.

The regulator has stated that layered checks remain sufficient if platforms implement them correctly. This stance contrasts with the findings of the advisers, who observed that the original trial overlooked the potential for users under 16 to circumvent restrictions by simply providing a false birthdate. The discrepancy highlights a gap between the regulatory framework and the practical enforcement of age verification technologies on major social media platforms.

The study's findings suggest that without strict adherence to verification protocols, the legislation's primary objective of protecting minors online may be compromised. The government's reliance on "reasonable steps" appears to be insufficiently enforced, allowing minors to access platforms with minimal resistance.