Migrant exploitation law in force 8 October 2026: the department can publish approved sponsor details

What changed

The Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Act 2026, assented to on 8 April 2026, commenced on 8 October 2026. It allows the Secretary of the department to publish, on the department’s website, information about approved work sponsors that the regulations prescribe.

The regulations may extend the published information to the sponsor’s name, ABN and number of nominations. Our rulebook does not yet record which information the regulations prescribe.

Who it affects

Employers approved as work sponsors, and temporary workers who hold or are considering a sponsored visa.

Related protection for workers

• Under the Strengthening Reporting Protections criteria Home Affairs will not cancel the visa of a temporary worker who breached a work-related condition because of workplace exploitation, if the listed requirements (certification, written commitments, no other grounds) are met.
• The protection can apply only once on a visa, and a repeat request is still assessed on its merits.
• It applies to breaches of a work-related visa condition connected to the workplace exploitation. A breach of a ‘no work’ condition is not counted.

What to check

• Which information about approved sponsors the regulations prescribe, because the Act itself only allows publication of what the regulations set out.
• The Home Affairs page on the Strengthening Reporting Protections criteria for the full list of requirements.
• For your own case, ask a registered migration agent (MARA) or an Australian legal practitioner.