Media

'Skilled workers will be able to apply for permanent residency if they live and work in regional areas for three years, in a bid to lure migrants from cities'

'Tonga's entry into the Scheme will provide more Tongan workers access to skills development opportunities, while also helping fill labour shortages in rural and regional Australia'

"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"

'Australia's Tamil Refugee Council say detention is playing on the health of a family facing deportation to Sri Lanka'.

'Prime Minister Scott Morrison has cleared the ground for a migration overhaul that confronts surging growth in Sydney and Melbourne, using regional rules to set a different approach for each part of the country'.

'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 giving of a false document to the Department has consequences that might go far beyond a mere refusal based on PIC 4020. It is also a criminal offence punishable with imprisonment for 10 years or 1,000 penalty units, or both

'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'

"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.

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