Atlassian`s boss warned that tightening visa policies would hamper the growth of local technology companies.
Atlassian co-founder Scott Farquhar warned that the government`s proposed changes to the visa system could hinder the growth of local technology companies and are already hurting.
The technology billionaire says Australia`s tech companies need to bring in top executives to expand their businesses and train local staff, but the government`s plan to cancel visa links with permanent residences means most people will not think about it.
Earlier this year, the government called for submissions on the assessment of the visa system, saying it would change its policy to make it more responsive to economic, social and security interests.
The government has abolished the 457 skills visa and the through-pass route for work visa holders to become permanent residents, who need to prove their eligibility to stay in Australia after a period of residence in Australia.
According to the Australian Financial Review, the government will release its report next week after receiving submissions.
Farquhar has previously talked about the need to increase the number of senior technology executives in Australia to meet domestic demand and to help local companies expand globally.
But he said the government`s plans would be disastrous for local technology companies, saying that even if it were to come up with the idea, it would have hurt.
"the Australian government has gone too far to damage our reputation as a destination where people want to work," he said.
"even before these ideas became law, the government`s signal to the world was that they almost shouted that Australia was closing the door for business."
Temporary skill visa data released this week show that the number of land visas granted to the IT industry has fallen sharply since the government announced changes in April and introduced stricter policies.
In the three-month period from July to September, the government approved only 981 temporary skills visas, down more than 50 percent from 2058 in the same period last year and the lowest level since 2009.
Farquhar spends most of its time in the United States, and Atlassian is listed on the NASDAQ.
He says it takes a lot of effort to relocate the world`s leading tech talent to Australia.
He thinks local technology companies want to bring in the top talent, and they won`t take jobs because they don`t have the skills they don`t have.
He said 1/4 of Atlassian`s Sydney employees had 457 visas, but they were helping to train and create jobs for Australians, rather than taking jobs from unemployed locals.
"it`s not a zero-sum game, but politicians mistakenly believe that if we hire someone from abroad, it`s taking a job from home," he said.
"but you see, Atlassian, we have 1000 jobs that didn`t exist a year ago, and we didn`t steal them from anywhere, we created them by using the international market."
"if we don`t bring these people to Australia, we`ll have to hire them in the United States or elsewhere."
"Australia will lose jobs, taxes and the benefits of having a skilled workforce."
