A new data-sharing program between the Department of Home Affairs and the ATO marks a sharp escalation in compliance enforcement for employer-sponsored visas. Payroll data is now being actively cross-checked against visa conditions to detect breaches - including underpayment, incorrect sponsorship arrangements and unauthorised work. At the same time 482 visa applicants are facing greater scrutiny around occupation suitability and the Genuine Position requirement with refusals becoming more common. Unpack the legal and practical consequences of these developments and the critical steps employers — and their advisers — must take to remain compliant. Drawing on the Employer Guide to SID visas and the Genuine Position test, the session provides clear, up-to-date guidance on navigating obligations, risk areas, and emerging skilled migration pathways.

Presenters

Tina Masrour, Principal Lawyer, One Planet Migration Law
Tina Masrour is the Principal Lawyer at One Planet Migration Law and a highly respected voice in Australian immigration law, with over 15 years of experience advising businesses and individuals on complex migration matters. She has a strong track record of assisting employers—from SMEs to multinational corporations—navigate sponsorship obligations, compliance frameworks, and the strategic selection of visa pathways to secure global talent. Tina’s deep personal connection to migration is central to her practice. Born in Australia to refugee parents, she brings lived insight into the migrant experience, which informs her empathetic and solutions-focused approach. Over her career, she has helped thousands of clients—from skilled workers to humanitarian applicants—achieve their migration goals, including those facing refusals, cancellations, or complicated regulatory barriers. Admitted as a solicitor in the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Tina combines technical legal expertise with a passion for social justice. She is a dedicated pro bono advocate and has contributed to the work of Aboriginal Legal Services and Anti-Slavery Australia. In recognition of her contributions, she was named a finalist in the Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards for her pro bono achievements. Tina regularly shares her expertise through legal training and thought leadership, with a focus on emerging visa pathways, employer compliance, and regulatory reform. Now based in Melbourne, she continues to champion inclusive migration policies that help shape a more diverse and dynamic Australia.

The Immigration Hour: Latest Updates, Timely Insights and Practical Strategies

What Now?  

In the past three months, 13 more businesses were sanctioned by the Australian Border Force for sponsorship breaches, bringing the total to over 120 this year. Penalties include cancellations, sanction bars, and fines up to $79,200. Common issues include role mismatches, salary breaches, and false information. Ensure your clients’ sponsored workers meet all obligations and that required Department notifications are made - sponsorship is not a set-and-forget responsibility, so now is the time to act. Meanwhile, delays are causing serious distress for clients, making effective strategies urgent and the intersection of criminal law and immigration has never been more complex, with more clients facing immigration consequences from old or minor matters resurfacing in police checks.

Our 5-part Casual Fridays for Busy Immigration Practitioners – Latest Updates, Timely Insights, Practical Strategies & Real Conversations, covers these issues in depth. Plus, gain authoritative insights on Ministerial Interventions from Dr Jason Donnelly, one of Australia’s leading immigration and public law experts and hear from an experienced barrister on the ethical use of AI in cases.