The Asia Pacific Law Forum promises to provide RMAs with an opportunity to get expert insights on doing business in China from ‘leading scholars and top level authorities from China” and Australia.

According to its organisers, “The purpose of the Asian Pacific Law Forum is to encourage Australian and Asian investors to find solutions to interregional conflict of laws and to show investors how they can protect their Australian-Asian investment activities.”

This year's Forum will focus on business management and development for Asian and Chinese lawyers and investors in Australia and China. Importantly, the forum is expected to provide a networking opportunity with businesses, experts, and lawyers from China and Australia.

The Forum which is in its second year attracted some 200 participants last year and is expected to draw a similar number this year according to its organisers with some 30 sc188 visa holders and over a dozen representatives of Chinese companies expected to also attend.

Other delegates will include Chinese lawyers from the Sino-Global Lawyers Association (SGLA) which is a grouping of some of China’s major law firms, members of the Australian China Business Council, the China Chamber of Commerce in Australia, NAB representatives and Australian law firms such as Baker & Mackenzie, and Hall & Wilcox.

Expansion of Australia’s Investor Visas and 457 skilled worker visa program

The Federal Government is planning on expanding the investor visa scheme along with making it easier to hire potential new employees in accordance with the 457 visa program.

The SIV provides a pathway to gaining permanent residency for foreign nationals who invest at least $5 million dollars into Australia for at least four years. The current Government proposes to create a new Premium Investor Visa (PIV) which will offer a 12 month pathway to attaining permanent residency for these who invest at least $15 million. Accompanying the possible implementation of the PIV will be changes to the SIV including the speeding up and streamlining of visa processing along with greater levels of promotion in an international capacity.

Message just in from Skilled and Business Migration Program, Trade and Industry Development, Department of State Development, Business and Innovation
Melbourne, Victoria:

The Live in Victoria website is in the process of undertaking a major technology upgrade. This will result in a more efficient and reliable service.

This upgrade will require us to take offline the systems for submitting and processing applications for State visa nomination for up to one week.

Prime Minister Tony Abbot, has announced that the government will introduce a new “Premium Investor Visa” offering a faster 12 month pathway to permanent residency, for those meeting a A$15 million investment threshold.

The announcement was made with the release of the government’s National Industry Investment and Competitiveness Agenda which commits $400 million towards ‘industry growth centres’ and sets out a series of strategies that promote industry led growth.

Key changes in respect of migration reform, include having SIV prospects target their money at areas of priority to the Australian economy. Currently the SIV grants foreigners with $5 million to invest over four years a permanent visa.

According to the Australian Financial Review, the SIV will be altered to push money towards certain areas of the economy. These are likely to be the ‘growth centres’. The government has chosen to focus on five sectors for its growth centres: oil and gas, mining technology, medical technology and pharmaceuticals, food and agribusiness and advanced manufacturing, where it says Australia has a “natural advantage” it can build on.

The 457 visa program will also be reformed, with the process of sponsorship, nomination and visa applications for “low risk” applicants streamlined, English language requirements made more flexible, and the sponsorship approval period increased from 12 to 18 months for start-up businesses.

Updated versions of the M1, M2 and R1 ‘Application for review’ forms were released on 13 October 2014 (design date 10/14). The forms now provide applicants with an opportunity to elect to receive all case related correspondence from the tribunals via email. 

The previous version of these forms, released in March 2014 (design date 03/14), will continue to be accepted by the tribunals until 30 January 2015. 

Current application forms are available on the 'Forms' page of the tribunals’ website. Http://www.mrt-rrt.gov.au/Forms-and-publications/Forms.aspx