Australia’s first Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Chris Evans, has written to Immigration Minister Tony Burke urging an urgent overhaul of the subclass 407 Training Visa after a coronial inquest found systemic exploitation led to the 2019 death of 21-year-old Filipino trainee Jerwin Royupa. The findings, handed down on 22 January, detailed debt-bondage-like conditions, unpaid 60-hour weeks and confiscation of Royupa’s passport while he worked on a New South Wales winery.
Deputy State Coroner Rebecca Hosking ruled that existing visa settings “drive vulnerability to forced labour and modern slavery” because the 407 program places scant obligations on sponsors to pay trainees or provide genuine skills development. She also referred the matter to the Australian Federal Police for possible modern-slavery prosecutions.
Amid this heightened scrutiny, many businesses and trainees seek expert help to navigate Australia’s evolving visa landscape. VisaHQ, a leading facilitator of Australian visas, assists sponsors and applicants in understanding subclass 407 requirements, assembling compliant documentation and tracking policy changes—mitigating the risk of refusals and penalties. For details, visit https://www.visahq.com/australia/.
![Coroner’s Inquest Sparks Call to Overhaul 407 Training Visa After Migrant’s Death]()
Evans has asked the government to tighten sponsor vetting, mandate minimum wage protections and introduce pre-departure briefings. The Department of Home Affairs says 45 per cent of 407 applications have already been refused so far in FY 2025-26—up from 12 per cent in 2018-19—as interim scrutiny, but broader regulatory change is now on the table.
For companies using the 407 visa for rotational training, the spotlight on exploitation means higher refusal risk, potential civil penalties and reputational damage. Mobility teams are advised to audit current trainees’ conditions, formalise learning plans and ensure payment meets Award standards. Expect updated policy instructions and possibly a legislative instrument by mid-2026.
The case underscores a wider trend: with Australia bolstering its Modern Slavery Act enforcement, immigration compliance is increasingly intertwined with labour-rights oversight. Businesses that cannot demonstrate robust trainee-welfare frameworks could find their sponsorship rights curtailed.
Deputy State Coroner Rebecca Hosking ruled that existing visa settings “drive vulnerability to forced labour and modern slavery” because the 407 program places scant obligations on sponsors to pay trainees or provide genuine skills development. She also referred the matter to the Australian Federal Police for possible modern-slavery prosecutions.
Amid this heightened scrutiny, many businesses and trainees seek expert help to navigate Australia’s evolving visa landscape. VisaHQ, a leading facilitator of Australian visas, assists sponsors and applicants in understanding subclass 407 requirements, assembling compliant documentation and tracking policy changes—mitigating the risk of refusals and penalties. For details, visit https://www.visahq.com/australia/.
Evans has asked the government to tighten sponsor vetting, mandate minimum wage protections and introduce pre-departure briefings. The Department of Home Affairs says 45 per cent of 407 applications have already been refused so far in FY 2025-26—up from 12 per cent in 2018-19—as interim scrutiny, but broader regulatory change is now on the table.
For companies using the 407 visa for rotational training, the spotlight on exploitation means higher refusal risk, potential civil penalties and reputational damage. Mobility teams are advised to audit current trainees’ conditions, formalise learning plans and ensure payment meets Award standards. Expect updated policy instructions and possibly a legislative instrument by mid-2026.
The case underscores a wider trend: with Australia bolstering its Modern Slavery Act enforcement, immigration compliance is increasingly intertwined with labour-rights oversight. Businesses that cannot demonstrate robust trainee-welfare frameworks could find their sponsorship rights curtailed.
