Funding boost to encourage migrants to settle in regional areas

The budget update sets aside additional funding to help migrants settle outside of congested big cities.

Skilled Migrant Source: SBS

The Morrison government will spend nearly $20 million over the next four years on measures to encourage more skilled migrants to settle in the regions.

The extra spending was revealed in the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook, released by the government on Monday.

The government will set up a Regional Migration Hub, which will undertake “outreach activities” to help regional employers access skilled migrant workers.

Skilled Migrant Source: Getty Images

It will also expand the use of special migration programs targeted at individual areas, through Designated Area Migration Agreements. The MYEFO papers did not specify locations.

Some of the money will also be spent on “enhanced” visa processing for regional areas.