Australia raises permanent migration cap to 195,000 to ease workforce shortages

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, and the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, wrapped up the two-day summit on Friday suggesting that all 36 actions, including workplace relations reforms and migration changes, can be done this year.

The conclusion of the summit blunts criticisms from the Liberal leader, Peter Dutton, that the government needs to do more to encourage pensioners to work but will lead to a contentious industrial relations bill this year to legislate options for multi-employer bargaining, revealed on Thursday.

The Albanese government also announced measures to cut visa wait times and fight migrant worker exploitation.

The immigration minister, Andrew Giles, said the government will spend $36.1m to hire 500 more staff in the home affairs department to clear a visa application backlog that now stretches to 900,000.

The government will widen the remit of the national housing infrastructure facility to release $575m for investment in social and affordable housing, including through attracting private capital and superannuation funds.

Giles agreed with calls to lift the pay floor for temporary skilled migration, but did not nominate a new floor.