Australian Immigration Daily News

This is all we have on this news so far, as at 3:30PM on 26 June 2023:

Migration-Amendment----Giving-Documents-and-other-Measures-Act-2023.pdf

Overview of the Disallowable Legislative Instrument

New Zealand citizens who wish to live and work in Australia generally do so on a Subclass 444 (Special Category) visa which allows them to work without restriction and live in Australia indefinitely. However, as it is a temporary visa, it does not provide all of the benefits of permanent residence. The New Zealand stream of the Subclass 189 (Skilled – Independent) visa provides a permanent residence option for New Zealand citizens who have demonstrated commitment to Australia.

On 10 December 2022, the permanent Subclass 189 New Zealand visa stream visa was temporarily closed to new applications from primary applicants from 10 December 2022 until 30 June 2023, while the Government considered options for New Zealand citizens.

On 22 April 2023, in recognition of the long standing, close and special bilateral relationship that exists between Australia and New Zealand, the Prime Minister, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, announced a direct pathway to Australian citizenship for New Zealand citizens living in Australia. From 1 July 2023, New Zealand citizens holding a Special Category (subclass 444) visa (SCV) who arrived in Australia after 26 February 2001 and who have been living in Australia for four years or more will be eligible to apply directly for Australian citizenship by conferral. They will no longer need to first apply for and be granted a permanent visa, making the New Zealand stream of the Subclass 189 (Skilled – Independent) visa unnecessary.

The Migration Amendment (Subclass 189 (Skilled – Independent) Visa in the New Zealand Stream) Regulations 2023 (the Amendment Regulations) amends the Migration Regulations 1994 (the Migration Regulations) to permanently close the Subclass 189 (Skilled – Independent) visa in the New Zealand stream to new applications as they may now apply directly for citizenship.

Secondary applicants (partners and dependent children) of a New Zealand stream primary applicant will continue to be permitted to make an application for a Subclass 189 (Skilled – Independent) visa after 10 December 2022 provided the primary applicant’s application remains on-hand awaiting decision by the Minister.

The amendments made by the Amendment Regulations also omit criteria relating to residence, income and health that do not apply to any on-hand applications as these criteria are now redundant.

Under the new scheme, whilst New Zealanders holding a SCV have a direct pathway to Australian citizenship, their non-New Zealand citizen family members will need to be sponsored for a permanent child or partner visa by the new Australian citizen in order to access permanent residence.

Source: Migration-Amendment-Sc189-Skilled-Independent-visa-in-the-NZ-Stream-Regulations-2023.pdf and

Migration-Amendment-Sc189-Skilled-Independent-visa-in-the-NZ-Stream-Regulations-2023---Explanatory-Statement.pdf

The instrument, Departmental reference LIN 23/042, is made under paragraphs 4005(1)(aa) and 4007(1)(aa) of Schedule 4 to the Migration Regulations 1994 (the Migration Regulations).

The instrument amends Required Medical Assessment (IMMI 15/144) (F2022C00721) in accordance with subsection 33(3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (the Acts Interpretation Act). That subsection provides that a power to make a legislative instrument includes a power to amend or repeal that instrument in the same manner, and subject to the same conditions, as the power to make the instrument.

The instrument commences on 1 July 2023, and is a legislative instrument for the Legislation Act 2003 (the Legislation Act).

Source: LIN23042.pdf and LIN23042-Explanatory-Statement.pdf

The purpose of the Migration Amendment (Visa Application Charges) Regulations 2023 (the Regulations) is to amend the Migration Regulations 1994 (the Migration Regulations) to increase VACs for the majority of visas.

The amendments implement the Government’s decision to index the VACs in accordance with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and to implement the Migration – Uplift of Visa Application Charges Budget measure. The increased revenue generated will fund costs associated with improving visa processing including ensuring the timeliness of visa processing.

Source: Migration-Amendment-Visa-Application-Charges-Regulations-2023.pdf and

A Private Senator's Bill (Smith) for an Act to amend the Migration Act 1958, and for related purposes

This Bill amends the Migration Act to better inform the Commonwealth of Australia about persons entering Australia who have received an organ transplant. The Bill provides for questions about organ transplants to be added to the incoming passenger card for persons entering Australia. This Bill will help improve the Commonwealth’s ability to collect reliable data in relation to organ transplants on persons entering Australia. The Minister will be required to cause a report to be prepared and tabled in the Parliament regarding responses to these questions.

This Bill will also expand the character test to enable the Minister to decide to refuse to grant, or to cancel, a person’s visa if the Minister reasonably suspects the person has been involved in an offence involving trafficking in human organs. A person objectively failing the character test may be considered on a discretionary basis for visa refusal or cancellation on character grounds, regardless of whether there has been a conviction, or of any sentence imposed. The Bill also makes a consequential amendment to the definition of character concern in section 5C of the Migration Act.

Source: Migration-Amendment-Overseas-Organ-Transplant-Disclosure-and-Other-Measures-Bill.pdf