Tech giant Atlassian warn they may move from Australia due to 'suffocating' migration laws and changes to the 457 visa

  • Mike Cannon-Brookes addressed the Select Committee on the Future of Work
  • He said Australia's migration laws are damaging the country's tech industry  
  • Mr Cannon-Brookes said the restrictions may force Atlassian to shift its global headquarters away from Sydney 

By KHALEDA RAHMAN FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: | Updated:

The billionaire co-founder of Atlassian has warned the company may be forced to its headquarters out of Australia due to 'suffocating' migration restrictions.

Mike Cannon-Brookes told the Senate's Select Committee on the Future of Work and Workers in Melbourne on Tuesday that recent changes to the 457 visa and living-away-from-home allowances are damaging the country's technology industry, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Atlassian – founded by Mr Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar in 2002 – now employs 2,292 people globally, with 1,000 based in Australia.

Atlassian may be forced to its headquarters out of Australia due to 'suffocating' migration restrictions according to its co-founder, Mike Cannon-Brookes (pictured with wife, Annie)

Atlassian may be forced to its headquarters out of Australia due to 'suffocating' migration restrictions according to its co-founder, Mike Cannon-Brookes (pictured with wife, Annie)

But Mr Cannon-Brookes believes visa restrictions could mean Atlassian may have to move its headquarters away from Sydney in order to attract the best talent.

'The restrictions are suffocating our ability to become a leading innovation nation and fundamentally threatening Atlassian's ability to remain headquartered here as much as the founders would love that to be the case,' he told the hearing.

He added that Australia is thinking about skilled migration 'completely backwards.'

He said the focus is on 'overseas workers aren't 'taking jobs from Australians' when the reality is that experienced migrants are job multipliers at his company.

Atlassian – founded by Mr Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar (pictured with wife, Kim) in 2002 – now employs 2,292 people globally, with 1,000 based in Australia

Atlassian – founded by Mr Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar (pictured with wife, Kim) in 2002 – now employs 2,292 people globally, with 1,000 based in Australia

'The restrictions are suffocating our ability to become a leading innovation nation,' Mr Cannon Brooks told the hearing

'The restrictions are suffocating our ability to become a leading innovation nation,' Mr Cannon Brooks told the hearing

He said Atlassian's success depends on its ability to attract the best talent from around the world.

After the hearing, the told the Sydney Morning Herald that the decision about where to keep the company's workforce would have to be practical.

'I am not trying to bribe them or threaten them into something,' he said.

'We make decisions every day on where to put this project or that project. We do make them looking at the talent we have available.' 

Mr Cannon Brooks (left) said the focus was on 'overseas workers aren't 'taking jobs from Australians' when the reality is that experienced migrants are job multipliers at his company

Mr Cannon Brooks (left) said the focus was on 'overseas workers aren't 'taking jobs from Australians' when the reality is that experienced migrants are job multipliers at his company

Mr Cannon-Brookes (left, with Scott Farquar, right) believes visa restrictions could mean Atlassian may have to move its headquarters away from Sydney to attract the best talent

Mr Cannon-Brookes (left, with Scott Farquar, right) believes visa restrictions could mean Atlassian may have to move its headquarters away from Sydney to attract the best talent

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