Following a major change to the Northern Territory’s Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA), NT businesses sought to fill 520 positions with skilled migrants in 2019 - a 263 per cent year-on-year increase.

DAMA II, a bilateral agreement between the Northern Territory and Federal Governments, came into effect on January 1, 2019 with the inclusion of a pathway to permanent residency.

Unlike the first DAMA between the two jurisdictions, DAMA II visa holders can apply for permanent residency after working in the Territory for at least three years.

As a result of this inclusion, local businesses have requested to fill 520 positions with skilled migrants in the first year of DAMA II – almost equalling the 573 positions sought for the entire four years of the first DAMA.

There are currently seven DAMA’s in place in Australia

• Northern Territory: Northern Territory Designated Area Migration Agreement

• The Goldfields, WA: City of Kalgoorlie Boulder

• Great South Coast, VIC: Warrnambool City Council

• Adelaide City and Regional SA: Immigration South Australia

• Orana, NSW: Regional Development Australia - Orana, NSW

• Far North Queensland: Cairns Chamber of Commerce DAMA – Cairns Chamber of Commerce, FNQ