Media

"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.

The government has just announced that it will expand the travel ban to Italy as of 6PM tonight, 11 March 2020.

"These actions are based on advice that the volume of reported COVID-19 cases in the Republic of Korea, and the scale of travel to Australia from the Republic of Korea, means that they present a high risk of further transmission of COVID-19 in Australia".

According to several media outlets, the travel ban currently in place for travellers arriving in Australia from China will be expanded on Sunday, 1 Mar 2020, to include travellers arriving from Iran. An article from the Sydney Morning Herald includes the following passage: "As with the existing travel restrictions to mainland China, Australian citizens, residents and their immediate family will still be able to come back to Australia from Iran, but they must self-isolate for 14 days".

'First, the government is cutting the permanent migration program by a cumulative 120,000 places over four years. The new cap is 160,000 per annum, down from the cap of 190,000. The average intake over the last five years has been 183,000... Second, the government is introducing strong incentives for new international students to choose locations outside of the big capital cities'.

"The Australian Government may not be pursuing changes to the Australian citizenship law - that would make permanent residents wait longer and require evidence of their English proficiency before they can apply"

'From 1 July 2019, the number of Work and Holiday visas available to Singaporean citizens aged 18-30 will increase from 500 to 2,500 per year'

'The individual is alleged to have engaged with several complicit Registered Migration Agents to lodge applications with the Department of Home Affairs, sponsoring individuals for positions in businesses that do not exist'

'Five IMA detainees, who arrived in Australia before 1 January 2014, were voluntarily removed from Australia. Three IMA detainees who arrived in Australia before 1 January 2014 were involuntarily removed from Australia to their country of origin, consistent with Australia’s obligations'

'Australia's refugee intake will be frozen at current levels for three years under a coalition government'