Australian Immigration Daily News

The Migration Amendment (Strengthening the Character Test) Bill 2019 (the Bill) amends the Migration Act 1958 (the Migration Act) to provide grounds for non-citizens who commit serious offences, and who pose a risk to the safety of the Australian community, to be appropriately considered for visa refusal or cancellation. Specifically, the provisions of the Bill:

- amend the character test in section 501 of the Migration Act 1958 to provide grounds to consider visa cancellation or refusal where the non-citizen has been convicted of a serious crime.

- make consequential amendments to the definition of character concern in section 5C of the Migration Act 1958.

Source: Migration-Amendment-Strengthening-the-Character-Test-Bill-2019.pdf

and Migration-Amendment-Strengthening-the-Character-Test-Bill-2019-Explanatory-Memorandum.pdf

The Migration Amendment (Streamlining Visa Processing) Bill 2019 (the Bill) amends the Migration Act 1958 (the Act) to enable the Minister to specify groups of visa applicants who are required to provide one or more personal identifiers to make a valid application.

A biometric (termed ‘personal identifier’ in the Act), is a unique identifier that is based on individual physical characteristics, such as a facial image or a set of fingerprints, which can be digitised into a biometric template for automated storage and checking. Once ‘anchored‘ to a person’s biographic information, such as name, nationality and date of birth, a biometric adds significantly to verifying that a person is who they claim to be, and to linking an individual to security, law enforcement, and immigration information.

Source: Migration-Amendment-Streamlining-Visa-Processing-Bill-2019.pdf and 

Migration-Amendment-Streamlining-Visa-Processing-Bill-2019-Explanatory-Memorandum.pdf

Central West Region - Will open in early August 2019.

RDACW processing dates for Round One will be adhered to:
- Registration open 5th August  and close by 9th August
- Full applications will be required within 7 days following an Invitation to Apply.
- RDACW referrals will close 9th September

Far South Coast - Currently suspended. Further announcement for openings to be posted on their website. Click here for their website. Previous occupation list available here.

SA is showing an update for this occupation on their website:

The special conditions are shown here:

https://www.migration.sa.gov.au/skilled-migrants/nomination-process/skilled-nomination-requirements/supplementary-skilled-list-and-special-conditions-apply

The Migration Legislation Amendment (Regional Processing Cohort) Bill 2019 (the Bill) amends the Migration Act 1958 (Migration Act) and the Migration Regulations 1994 (the Migration Regulations) to prevent unauthorised maritime arrivals (UMAs) who were at least 18 years of age and were taken to a regional processing country after 19 July 2013 from making a valid application for an Australian visa.

The amendments will also apply to transitory persons who were at least 18 years of age and were taken to a regional processing country after 19 July 2013 under Division 7 or 8 of Part 3 of the Maritime Powers Act 2013 (the Maritime Powers Act). These groups of people will be referred to as the designated regional processing cohort.

The amendments will include a personal power of the Minister to permit a member of the designated regional processing cohort, or a class of persons within the designated regional processing cohort, to make a valid application for a visa if the Minister thinks it is in the public interest to do so.