# Purposes of this Division

> act-s140AA — as in force on 2026-06-04 — C2026C00232 · Compilation No. 171 — https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2026C00232/latest/text

140AA Purposes of this Division
          (1) The purposes of this Division, to the extent it applies in relation to
              the temporary sponsored work visa program, are as follows:
                (a) to provide a framework for the program in order to address
                    genuine skills shortages;
                (b) to address genuine skills shortages in the Australian labour
                    market:
                      (i) without displacing employment and training
                          opportunities for Australian citizens and Australian
                          permanent residents (within the meaning of the
                          regulations); and
                     (ii) without the program serving as a mainstay of the skilled
                          migration program;
                (c) to balance the objective of ensuring employment and training
                    opportunities for Australian citizens and Australian
                    permanent residents with that of upholding the rights of
                    non-citizens sponsored to work in Australia under the
                    program;
                (d) to impose obligations on work sponsors to ensure that:
                      (i) non-citizens sponsored to work in Australia under the
                          program are protected; and
                     (ii) the program is not used inappropriately;
                (e) to enable monitoring, detection, deterrence and enforcement
                    in relation to any inappropriate use of the program;










                  (f) to give Fair Work Inspectors (including the Fair Work
                      Ombudsman) and inspectors appointed under this Division
                      the necessary powers and functions to investigate compliance
                      with the program.
          (2) The purposes of this Division, to the extent it applies in relation to
              the sponsored family visa program, are:
                (a) to strengthen the integrity of the program; and
                (b) to place greater emphasis on the assessment of persons as
                    family sponsors; and
                (c) to improve the management of family violence in the
                    delivery of the program.
          (3) The purposes referred to in subsection (2) are to be achieved by
              establishing a framework that:
                (a) requires the approval of persons as family sponsors before
                    any relevant visa applications are made; and
               (b) imposes obligations on persons who are or were approved
                    family sponsors; and
                (c) provides for sanctions if such obligations are not satisfied;
                    and
               (d) facilitates the sharing of personal information in accordance
                    with this Division.