Hundreds of employer-sponsored visa applications made before 1 July may be invalid, according to a report released by the Australian Financial Review. 

However, the new English language and skills assessments requirements for permanent employer-sponsored visa programmes are not valid to applications lodged before 1 July 2017 as the changes will only come into effect for applications lodged after this date.   
The changes include a requirement of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) of the score six in each component. 

Applicants earning over $180,000 per year that were usually exempt from taking the English language and skills assessment for the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) and Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187) will have their exemption removed by the Government.  

This is to prevent misuse of the program. There has been reported cases of people inflating their incomes to avoid taking the English test or a skills assessment. 

Any applications lodged before 1 July will need to take their assessment on merit, and anyone suspected of inflating their incomes will be faced with further scrutiny. 

Moreover, the maximum age for the visa is now 45, reduced from 50. 

This new condition will also begin from 1 July and will not include the current subclass class 457 visa holders applying for their transition stream. 

Further, from 1 July, there has been an adjustment for the occupation list for visa programs under the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) and the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL). 

Lists of the eligible skilled occupations are available here: http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Work/Work/Skills-assessment-and-assessing-authorities/skilled-occupations-lists.