Foreigners working in Australia’s offshore oil and gas projects need to apply for visas

Foreigners working on vessels in Australia’s multi-billion dollar offshore oil and gas industry must now have a visa to do so, the country’s highest court has decided.

Until now, non-Australians working resources installations have been able to work without needing a visa but the court decision means that they will need to have either a 457 skilled visa or a short stay visa.

The decision has been welcomed by maritime trade unions but described as disappointing by Immigration Minister Peter Dutton who said it will reduce the competitiveness of the industry.

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITWF) welcomed the unanimous decision by the High Court of Australia which ruled that the Government decision in 2015 to exempt offshore workers from domestic visa requirements was invalid.

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