Legislative Updates

The "Deregulation Bill" passed the House of Reps on 12 Feb 2020 and awaits debate in the Senate. Under the Bill's previous version, although practitioners would eventually have to decide between being either lawyers or RMAs, those who would become Restricted Practising Certificate (RPC) holders after the commencement of Schedule 1 & 2 of the Bill could subsequently also become and then remain RMAs for 2 years after the RPC grant, extendable by another 2. That is no longer the case. However, in response to the argument made by individuals including the writer in written submissions to the Senate, those who are RMAs before becoming lawyers will be able to transition and thus avoid giving up their clients. We explain why.

"The purpose of the [new] instrument is to undertake a biannual update of the places and corresponding currencies in which payment of a fee may be made".

'The purpose of the instrument is to undertake a biannual update of the places and corresponding currencies in which payment of a fee may be made'

The purpose of the new instrument is "to update the place and manner of lodgement for applications for the Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)) visa in the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (Class PS) class of visa" and to "update the definition of departmental email and repeal the definition of official departmental email address to provide clarity regarding an official departmental email address" for visa class PE (subclass 494).

"The purpose of the instrument is to implement changes ... which, among other things, will introduce the Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)) visa (Subclass 491) and close the Subclass 489 visa to applicants in the First Provisional Visa stream". The assessing authorities for some occupations vary depending on the date of the assessment, as we explain in this article.

'The purpose of this instrument is to update the name of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia to Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand'

8 occupations have moved from the ROL to the MLTSSL, but that makes no practical difference for visa subclass 187 (RSMS); that change merely aligns subclass 187's MLTSSL with the MLTSSLs for subclasses 482 and 186; error in explanatory statement regarding caveats

"The purpose of the instrument is to update the arrangements for making an application for a Skilled (Provisional) (Class VF) visa or for a Skilled (Provisional) (Class VC) visa"

"The instrument specifies bodies as Regional Certifying Bodies, who can give advice to the Minister about the matters set out in subregulation 2.72C(18) of the Regulations, in relation to applications for approval of an nomination for a subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional)) visa".

The new Regulations "allow the Minister to impose a number of existing visa conditions, relating to the safety and security of the Australian community, on Subclass 050 (Bridging (General)) visas and Subclass 070 (Bridging (Removal Pending)) visas. The conditions may be imposed if the visa is granted by the Minister exercising his or her personal power under section 195A of the Migration Act to grant a visa to a detainee".