SenateDivision 24 · 1 Apr 2026

Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Bill 2025 - Limitation of Debate - Agree with the bill's main idea

Passed36 aye · 25 no

What this vote was about

The majority voted in favour of a motion to read the bill for a second time, which is parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the main idea of the bill.

What is the bill's main idea?

According to the explanatory memorandum, which a document prepared by the Government (the party that introduced the bill):

On 11 December 2023, the Australian Government released its Migration Strategy outlining reform directions for Australia’s skilled visa programs. The Migration Strategy is informed by extensive consultation with business, unions and other stakeholders, and more than 450 submissions received as part of the Review of the Migration System. The Migration Strategy includes reforms targeting temporary skilled migration to address skills needs and promote worker mobility.

Australia’s skilled migration framework includes mechanisms aimed at ensuring that holders of certain skilled temporary visas are offered remuneration and employment conditions that are at least equivalent to what is, or would be, provided to an Australian worker performing the same work at the same location.

The Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Bill 2025 (the Bill) contains amendments of the Migration Act 1958 (the Migration Act) to implement a commitment made by the Government in the Migration Strategy. The amendments in the Bill will allow for the implementation and maintenance of a public register of approved work sponsors. This register, which will be maintained on the website of the Department of Home Affairs, will promote transparency and worker mobility for temporary skilled migrant workers in Australia.

The amendments in the Bill will amend the Migration Act to provide for the publication of a register of approved standard business sponsors and accredited sponsors who have nominated skilled workers for entry to Australia including the name of the approved work sponsor, Australian Business Number and postcode, the number of individuals nominated under the sponsorship approval process and the occupations of the nominated workers.

This amendment aligns with the Government’s priorities and commitment to promoting Australia as a destination of choice for highly skilled migrants when competing on the world stage, while also ensuring skilled migrant workers are less vulnerable to exploitation.

The Bill provides enhanced protections and transparency through the establishment of a public register of approved work sponsors. The development of a public register that includes details of approved work sponsors, such as the name of the approved sponsor, number of sponsored workers and their occupations, will encourage transparency, monitoring and oversight. This will support temporary skilled migrant workers to find a new sponsor when exploring alternative employment opportunities, providing a resource to confirm whether a sponsoring employer is legitimate.

Context written by They Vote For You volunteers (ODbL), reproduced unchanged.

Related bills

Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Bill 2025

By party

Party	Aye	No
Australian Labor Party	24	0
Liberal–National Coalition	0	21
Australian Greens	11	0
Pauline Hanson's One Nation	0	3
Independent	1	0
United Australia Party	0	1

Every vote

AYE (36)

NO (25)

Other divisions this sitting day

What the Senate divided on around this vote, in order.

1 Apr 2026Criminal Code Amendment (Keeping Australia Safe) Bill 2026 - Second Reading - Agree with the bill's main ideaSenate 26–34
1 Apr 2026Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 1) Bill 2026 - Limitation of Debate - Removing upper limit for urgent payment requestsSenate 12–35
1 Apr 2026Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 1) Bill 2026 - Limitation of Debate - 6‑year limit on debt recovery, indexing urgent payment request limitsSenate 13–34
1 Apr 2026Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 1) Bill 2026 - Limitation of Debate - Remote area allowanceSenate 17–29
1 Apr 2026Commonwealth Parole Board Bill 2025, Commonwealth Parole Board (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025 - Second Reading - Agree with the bills' main ideaSenate 38–20
1 Apr 2026Commonwealth Parole Board Bill 2025, Commonwealth Parole Board (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025 - Limitation of Debate - Role of the SecretarySenate 22–35
1 Apr 2026Commonwealth Parole Board Bill 2025, Commonwealth Parole Board (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025 - Limitation of Debate - Role of SecretarySenate 38–21
1 Apr 2026Commonwealth Parole Board Bill 2025 and another - Limitation of Debate - Termination of appointmentsSenate 25–34
1 Apr 2026Commonwealth Parole Board Bill 2025, Commonwealth Parole Board (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025 - Limitation of Debate - Attorney‑General objection powerSenate 25–34
1 Apr 2026Commonwealth Parole Board Bill 2025, Commonwealth Parole Board (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025 - Limitation of Debate - Pass the billSenate 38–21
1 Apr 2026National Health Amendment (Passive Immunological Products) Bill 2026 - Limitation of Debate - Vaccines to be tested against an inert saline placeboSenate 5–43
1 Apr 2026National Health Amendment (Passive Immunological Products) Bill 2026 - Limitation of Debate - Pass the billSenate 39–5
1 Apr 2026Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 and another - Limitation of Debate - Strengthen alcohol regulationsSenate 34–24
1 Apr 2026Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 and another - Limitation of Debate - Strengthen alcohol regulationsSenate 34–23
1 Apr 2026Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 and another - Limitation of Debate - On-premises consumptionSenate 5–40
1 Apr 2026Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 and another - Limitation of Debate - 25 per cent tax on LNG export revenueSenate 12–32
1 Apr 2026Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 and another - Committee of the Whole - Tap spirits and independent reviewSenate 25–32
1 Apr 2026Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025, Customs Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 - Limitation of Debate - Craft beerSenate 6–38
1 Apr 2026Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Bill 2025 - Limitation of Debate - Review and statement of reasons for refusing financial servicesSenate 25–34
1 Apr 2026Translating and Interpreting Services Bill 2025 - Limitation of Debate - Implement Multicultural Framework Review findingsSenate 12–33
1 Apr 2026Translating and Interpreting Services Bill 2025 - Limitation of Debate - National frameworkSenate 12–32
1 Apr 2026Translating and Interpreting Services Bill 2025 - Limitation of Debate - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languagesSenate 12–31
1 Apr 2026Translating and Interpreting Services Bill 2025 - Limitation of Debate - Additional objects and Commonwealth‑funded translating and interpreting services frameworkSenate 12–32
1 Apr 2026Committees — Impact of the Conflict in Iran Select Committee; AppointmentSenate 33–27
1 Apr 2026Committees — Impact of the Conflict in Iran Select Committee; AppointmentSenate 27–33
1 Apr 2026Documents — Department of the Treasury, Home Guarantee Scheme; Order for the Production of DocumentsSenate 36–23