Updated: 23 July 2022
One of our client’s was recently featured in the Australian Financial Review with a focus on their thoughts on the changes to the 457 Visa program.
Since 2014 we have worked with Binyan, facilitating the growth of their business via 457s. Unfortunately their employees are affected by the recent changes to the 457 program, and we have been finding solutions to get permanent residency for their staff.
Dolnikov has used the 457 visa scheme to recruit the best talent available and in the process created one of the most successful studios of its kind in the world
Selected outtakes from the article
Like other specialist businesses, Mr Dolnikov has used the 457 visa scheme to recruit the best talent available and in the process created one of the most successful studios of its kind in the world with Binyan winning work on landmark projects like Barangaroo in Sydney, Jewel on the Gold Coast, Hudson Yards and The Clare in Manhattan and a major new aquarium in China.
“It used to be that the 457 visa gave these people a pathway to permanent residency. But now that path has been taken away,” said Mr Dolnikov, who founded Binyan from his Sydney living room about 10 years ago.
Under the new regime, the overseas artists employed by Binyan (under the category of architect or draughtsman) will only qualify for the shorter two-year work permit, offering no route to permanent residency.
Mr Dolnikov said the longer term solution would be to hire people in the US and build its business outside of Australia.
“I saw Scott Farquhar from Atlassian speak the other day and he was saying, ‘if you don’t want us here, we will hire people in America and India, not a problem for us’.
We care about these guys, they are part of our family
“I am one millionth of what he [Farquhar] is but we will do the same and build our American office. We don’t want to do this – we care about these guys, they are part of our family. They are all paying tax, their kids go to school here.[The government’s new immigration policy] is very shortsighted in my opinion.”
Full article here (may be behind a paywall).
