It's not clear how much the process has been thought through. In a simple world, SIR visa holders would have been given automatic access to PR provided they complied with the conditions of their visa.
That's not been done. Instead, state government sponsorship is required *again* at PR visa stage, unless you get an RSMS visa.
This increases dramatically the risk that at least one state government will, by accident or design, not understand the issues involved in sponsoring SIR holders for STNI. And leave the visa holders in a total mess unless or until DIMIA intervene to sort things out.
The reality is that most SIR visa holders will not find 'send' employment, and it's not clear whether the states will want to keep them for that reason.
Anyone going to Australia on a SIR visa before about 2007 is a 'guinea pig' for the process.
As for your particular questions before, DIMIA do *not* want people using SIR to get a 'foothold' in Australia and then using different pathways other than STNI, RSMS and State sponsored business owner to get permanent residence.
There are specific rules in place to restrict this, which may be extended in due course. They do read this forum, for a variety of reasons.
So if you insist on doing this, you're taking an enormous risk. Simple piece of advice - if you have another route to PR, think hard about the pros and cons of staying in the UK a little longer and forget about SIR.
And if you do go on a SIR visa, your primary focus has to be on the approved pathways to permanent residence as any other options may be closed.
Jeremy
-- This is not intended to be legal or professional advice in any jurisdiction
