Legislative Updates

The purpose of the new instrument is to "gradually close the COVID-19 pandemic event 408 visa to new applications from ..."

"The instrument updates the younger age specified for working holiday eligible passports issued by Denmark or Italy, to increase the eligible age for ... applicants for a subclass 417 visa to the maximum of 35 years of age (see subparagraph 417.211(2)(b)(i) of Schedule 2 to the Regulations)"

This instrument makes various amendments to the Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth), including to assist certain visa applicants and holders adversely affected by covid-19

"The purpose of the instrument is to specify, under regulation 1.15FA of the Regulations, areas of Australia and kinds of work for the definition of specified Subclass 462 work in regulation 1.03 of the Regulations"

"The amendments in the Bill respond to the decision of the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia (the Federal Court) in Pearson v Minister for Home Affairs [2022] FCAFC 203 (Pearson). In Pearson, the Federal Court relevantly held that, in effect, an aggregate sentence (a single sentence for more than one offence) imposing a term of imprisonment does not, in and of itself, constitute a ‘substantial criminal record’ within the meaning given by subsection 501(7) of the Migration Act..."

The new instrument amends the Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth) to "extend previously granted temporary graduate and skilled regional provisional visas whose holders have been impacted by COVID-19 related international travel restrictions in place from..." and to "extend certain Subclass 489 (Skilled – Regional (Provisional)), Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)) and Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional)) visas for three years"

The Bill "would establish a new, fit-for-purpose, federal administrative review body, to be named the Administrative Review Tribunal (the Tribunal), which will replace the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT)"

"The purpose of the instrument is to amend ... to specify the arrangements for applicants covered by subitem 1402(3B) of Schedule 1 to the Regulations to make a visa application for a Class XB visa, to specifically provide that these applicants must make their application using form ..."

The new Regulations 'allow citizenship application fees ... and refunds ... to be paid in foreign currencies and in foreign countries, and [align] the concession codes in Schedule 3 with the concession codes currently employed by the Department of Human Services'

"The Government is taking action to strengthen the legislative framework in the Migration Act to improve employer compliance and protect temporary migrant workers from exploitation. The ... amendments ... seek to ensure employers do not misuse migration rules to exploit temporary migrant workers ..."