Note for Australians: These tweaks to the rules almost certainly apply to E3 visas, which would allow you to go to the States with your opposite-sex married partner, and they'd then be allowed to work in any job without further approval from the federal government.
(Through an odd quirk of a US immigration directive, it also allows you to take your non-US same sex partner to the States, but they aren't allowed to work in any capacity. It must be about the only place where US immigration recognizes same-sex relationships.)
Yes, they do. The point I was trying to make was that I imagine that the new directive on the H1B's allowing them to be used by startup-y people would probably apply to E3's too.
ie, Go to the US to work for your business, and take your partner along who'd be able to work wherever they'd please.
I am not sure why your E3 partner would be able to work if they cannot today... Partners of H1B's have H4 status and are not allowed to work. Of course, they can file for H1B, but could not a spouse of an E3 file for an H1B (or E3) today?
(Through an odd quirk of a US immigration directive, it also allows you to take your non-US same sex partner to the States, but they aren't allowed to work in any capacity. It must be about the only place where US immigration recognizes same-sex relationships.)