Legislation Updates
Migration Legislation Tracker
A single source about the status of pieces of legislation, Bills, commencement dates, disallowances, etc
Disclosure of information to international organisations
"The purpose of this instrument is to specify the prescribed international organisations to which authorised officers may disclose identifying information under regulation..."
Disclosure of information to prescribed bodies
"The purpose of this instrument is to specify the prescribed bodies to which authorised officers may disclose identifying information under regulation 5.34D of the Migration Regulations"
Case Law Updates
Section 109 of the Constitution interpreted
High Court. Can it be said that the type of invalidity effected by s 109 of the Constitution does not render the State law void or beyond State legislative power, but instead renders the State law "inoperative"? If so, does it follow that, "on and from the Commonwealth law ceasing to have effect, the State law resumes its full force and effect"?
Relying on old reoffending risk assessment to determine current risk?
Federal Court. Was it legally unreasonable for the Assistant Minister to adopt the assessment of a psychologist "on the risk of the applicant reoffending, undertaken nine months previously, in the absence of evidence that the applicant had addressed certain matters to reduce that risk, to make a current assessment on risk"?
Appeal: meaning of ‘conviction’
Federal Court (Full Court). Did the Tribunal's finding involve a misinterpretation of the law, in that it found the appellant to have been 'convicted', in the absence of a court conviction? Was it sufficient for the purpose of para 8.4(4)(f) of Direction 99 for the AAT to consider the view expressed by a child, without considering the document where that view was expressed?
Industry Updates
Increased Tribunal fees
Tribunal application fees will increase from 1 July 2024 as follows...
Did para 8.3(4)(f) require consideration of child’s own views of removal...
Federal Court. Can it be said that, as the Applicant did not raise with the Tribunal his age or health as relevant were he to be removed from Australia, par 9.2(1)(a) of Direction 90 did not require the Tribunal to take those matters into account, as that provision only required such matters to be taken into account 'where relevant'? Did para 8.3(4)(f) of Direction 90 require the decision-maker to have regard to a child’s own expression of the importance to him or her of the non-citizen seeking review of a decision affecting his or her visa, instead of only considering the evidence of adults as to the adverse impact?
Can unauthorised maritime arrivals apply for visas?
Can an "unauthorised maritime arrival" apply for any type of visa while in Australia? Is the answer determined by s 48 of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth)?
Media Updates
Increased flexibility for international students to support supermarkets
The Federal government has recently announced as follows: "Today the Morrison Government has announced that supermarkets in States and Territories subject to COVID-19 lockdowns...
Can non-compliance with social distancing lead to cancellation?
"I will also say a very clear message to those backpackers who may not be adhering to the social distancing rules... [Y]ou will be breaching your visa condition and if we find that out, we will be kicking you out of the country". We discuss whether non-compliance with social distancing rules can in fact lead to a breach of a visa condition and ultimately the cancellation of a working holiday, work and holiday or other visas.
Some students able to work more than 40 hrs / fortnight
"Australia’s major supermarkets will temporarily be able to offer more hours to international student employees to help keep shelves stocked". It will be interesting to see whether this measure is extended to other industries until the situation is normalised.