Australian Immigration Daily News

Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Alex Hawke said these measures recognise the contribution of skilled migrants who remained here during the COVID-19 pandemic and encourage them to stay in Australia.

“Eligible skilled workers, already in Australia, will continue to support local businesses facing critical shortages, particularly in health, hospitality and our regions,” Minister Hawke said.

“This recognises the economic value-add of these critical workers, and retaining them will greatly assist in Australia’s economic recovery.”

“The changes compliment the Government’s recent announcement that fully vaccinated eligible temporary and provisional visa holders may enter Australia without a travel exemption from 1 December 2021,” he said.

Source: Visa-changes-to-support-the-reopening-of-Australia-and-our-economic-recovery.pdf

Purpose
The instrument specifies requirements to make a request for the Minister to prioritise the consideration of a valid application for a visa. On a request made in accordance with regulation 2.12M of the Regulations, in relation to a valid application for a visa, the Minister may prioritise the consideration of the application.

LIN21074.pdf and LIN21074-Explanatory-Statement.pdf

Minister for Education and Youth Alan Tudge said the announcement would accelerate the COVID-19 recovery process for the 2022 academic year.

“This will help ensure the rapid return of international students,” Minister Tudge said.

“It provides clear incentives for institutions and students and ensures students are not disadvantaged from being prevented from coming to Australia earlier.

“The extension of the Innovation Grants will help English language providers who have been hit particularly hard by COVID.”

 Source: Further-support-for-international-education-sector-and-international-students.pdf

A Bill for an Act to amend the Migration Act 1958, and for related purposes 

The Australian Government remains committed to protecting the Australian community from the risk of harm posed by non-citizens. To continue the trend of Australia’s strong cancellation powers and low tolerance for criminal behaviour by non-citizens, this Bill introduces measures that enhance the Government’s ability to protect the Australian community. The Bill follows on from issues considered by the 2017 Joint Standing Committee on Migration report on migrant settlement outcomes titled ‘No one teaches you to become an Australian’. In its recommendations 15 and 16, the Committee recommended that those convicted of a serious violent offence, such as serious assaults, aggravated burglary, sexual offences and possession of child pornography, should have their visas cancelled under character provisions. The Bill strengthens the character test in section 501 Migration Act 1958 (the Migration Act) to ensure that non-citizens who are convicted of certain serious criminal offences may be considered for visa refusal or cancellation, regardless of the length of sentence imposed. The amendments in the Bill acknowledge that certain serious criminal offences (designated offences) have a particularly significant impact on victims, and that a person who is convicted of such an offence should be appropriately considered for visa refusal or cancellation under section 501. The Bill amends section 501 of the Migration Act to introduce a new ground on which a person convicted of a designated offence (in Australia or overseas) objectively fails the character test, and may be considered on a discretionary basis for visa refusal or cancellation on character grounds, regardless of the actual sentence imposed. The Bill also makes consequential amendments to the definition of character concern in section 5C of the Migration Act.

Source:  Migration-Amendment-Strengthening-the-Character-Test-Bill-2021.pdf and Migration-Amendment-Strengthening-the-Character-Test-Bill-2021-Explanatory-Memorandum.pdf

A Bill for an Act to amend the Migration Act 1958, and for related purposes 

The Migration Amendment (Protecting Migrant Workers) Bill (the Bill) amends the
Migration Act 1958 (the Migration Act) to strengthen the Government’s response to the
exploitation of migrant workers in Australia, and to implement Recommendations 19 and
20 from the Report of the Migrant Workers’ Taskforce (the Taskforce Report).
The Migrant Workers’ Taskforce (the Taskforce) was established in 2016 as part of the
Government’s commitment to protect vulnerable workers. It was asked to identify further
proposals for improvements in law, law enforcement and investigation, and other practical
measures to more quickly identify and rectify any cases of migrant worker exploitation.
The Taskforce Report was released on 7 March 2019 and is available at:
https://www.ag.gov.au/industrial-relations/migrant-workers-taskforce.
The Government is implementing a range of measures to respond to the Taskforce’s
recommendations. The Department of Home Affairs is the lead agency responsible for
implementing:

Recommendation 19: It is recommended that the Government consider
developing legislation so that a person who knowingly unduly influences,
pressures or coerces a temporary migrant worker to breach a condition of their
visa is guilty of an offence; and