Media

'Regional housing markets are surging in some areas as the effects of the Sydney and Melbourne booms trickle down to those outside the major cities'.

'The Accredited Sponsor Scheme, which allows rapid processing of skilled visas, is to be substantially expanded... employers that have invested in the past five years at least $50 million into their Australian business will now be eligible for the Scheme'

From 1 July 2019, 500 places will be available annually for young Greeks to visit Australia on work & holiday visas

"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.

'An Australian passport is not evidence of a person’s citizenship,” said the department, which noted passports were issued to non-citizens prior to a law change in 2005'

'Lawyers... say they will press for a legal precedent [at the High Court] that a "member of the Aboriginal race of Australia" under the constitution cannot be treated as an "alien"'

"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.

'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'

"Changes to the Minister of Religion Labour Agreement settings will allow religious institutions to sponsor overseas workers under the additional occupation of 'Religious Assistant'"

'Speaking to SBS, David Coleman said his priority is to get migrants to struggling regional communities. But, he hasn't forgotten about controversial plans to toughen citizenship requirements'.