Australia: public register of work sponsors — Royal Assent 8 April 2026, starts 8 October 2026

What happened A Bill to create a public register of work sponsors received Royal Assent on 8 April 2026. The policy intent is straightforward: you can check whether an employer (or related entity) is actually accredited to sponsor temporary skilled workers, before you sign an offer that depends on sponsorship. Commencement Public law reporting ties commencement to a six-month runway after Royal Assent, which points to 8 October 2026. Implementation details (search fields, which sponsor subclasses appear first) will sit on the Home Affairs and related government sites at launch. Why students should care A large share of settlement-oriented students eventually depend on an employer to navigate the skilled stream. A register reduces the "trust me, we sponsor" information gap and supports better due diligence, especially for first-job hunters who are not yet familiar with Australian business names and labour-hire patterns. It does not remove the need for a MARA-registered professional for a formal application strategy — it simply shrinks a common blind spot. Sources: firm updates (e.g. Fragomen) and the Commonwealth legislative record for Royal Assent. Confirm commencement on Home Affairs on or after 8 Oct 2026.