Inbound and Outbound Australian Travel update
The Federal and State governments have announced a number of changes to in and outbound travel arrangements due to the recent spike in Covid-19 cases in Melbourne Australia and concerns about increases in New South Wales. Inbound places reduced The Federal government has announced a decrease in the number of places available for travel to […]
Visa holder update to COVID-19 pandemic response from the Department of Home Affairs
With the pandemic curve currently under control many are starting to ask when the Australian government will loosen restrictions on international movement. The unfortunate news for many affected visa holders and those seeking to travel appears to be – ‘not soon’. Changes to support temporary visa holders The government announced a series of rapid changes to […]
Kristina Keneally’s immigration rhetoric misses the mark.
Shadow Immigration Minister and Labor Senator, Kristina Keneally’s opinion piece, set out her desire to review the migration program after the COVID-19 pandemic. Senator Keneally asked ‘do we want migrants to return to Australia in the same numbers and in the same composition as before the crisis?’ Her answer was no, and she highlighted concerns about […]
Temporary Activity Subclass 408 visa Australian Government Endorsed Event stream for COVID-19 Pandemic
In early April the Federal Government announced plans to introduce a new visa stream to enable temporary residents to remain during the Covid-19 pandemic and work in critical areas of the economy. Clarification of operation of the 408 AGEE COVID-19 visa Home Affairs have now issued further materials with additional details on how the 408 […]
Updated guidance on immigration response to Covid-19 Pandemic
Background Home Affairs and the Federal Government have announced multiple changes to the immigration system since the beginning of the crisis. The scope of the immigration response to the Covid-19 pandemic is drastic and the Federal government has collaborated with the immigration profession, employer groups, unions, and other NGOs to identify remedies which will support […]
Australian Government announces ‘JobKeeper’ wage subsidy for employers
Federal Government ‘JobKeeper’ subsidy intended to support business through Coronavirus pandemic The Australian Commonwealth government has announced a JobKeeper wage subsidy to assist employers to continue to employ staff during the Coronavirus pandemic. The subsidy of $1500 per fortnight will apply to Australian citizens, permanent residents and both protected and non-protected Special Category Subclass 444 […]
The Latest Australian Travel Restrictions due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
Travel restrictions to Australia From 20 March 2020 at 9 pm AEDST, only Australian citizens, residents and immediate family members can travel to Australia. All travellers to Australia are required to self-isolate for 14 days, either at home or in a hotel. Travel restrictions from Australia From 25 March, 2020 at 12:00 pm AEDST an Australian […]
Skilled Occupation List ‘Traffic Light Bulletin’ released
The Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family business has finally released the Traffic Light Bulletin for consultation. The Bulletin includes the proposed changes to the Skilled Occupation Lists, including which occupations will be moved from between the ‘good’ Medium & Long Term Skilled Shortage List (MLTSSL) and the ‘bad’ Short Term Skill Occupation List […]
New Regional Visa Push – a visa of last resort
The Federal government has touted the creation of two new ‘Regional Visas’, as being critical to achieving its ‘congestion busting’ agenda to promote regional migration. But analysis has quickly revealed that the visas themselves are unlikely to achieve this goal. In fact, the visa program design is so flawed they are essentially visas of ‘last […]