Editor's Blog

A survey of almost 4000 people in these four Commonwealth nations, has found that there is massive support for a European Union-style system of free movement between these countries.

Seventy per cent of Australians were in favour of the idea of the ‘migration bloc’ with only one in ten opposed. Support was stronger among Canadians (75 per cent), New Zealanders (82 per cent) and people under the age of 35.

Tim Hewish, author of the report and director of policy and research at the Royal Commonwealth Society, told The Guardian that there was clearly “immense support” from Australians, Canadians and New Zealanders for the freedom to live and work in the UK.

From today, Chinese nationals can pay an additional $1000 to have their visa applications for a Visitor visa in either the Tourist or Business Visitor stream, fast-tracked.

As part of a trial to speed-up visa-processing for those who need to travel to Australia on short-notice and can afford to pay for the priority-processing, the department of immigration has announced that it will start fast-tracking such applications but did not commit to a minimum processing timeframe.

The department of immigration says there is no regulatory requirement that the application be decided by a particular timeframe despite the promise of priority processing and accepting the payment of $1000.

Official statistics released by the department of immigration show that 4450 sc457 visa applications were refused in the last quarter of 2015 compared to 2130 refusals for the same period in the previous year.

These figures could get worse given that RMAs have been reporting that the department of immigration has taken a stricter stance in its assessment regime. In some cases, the DIBP has given applicants little or no chance to provide additional evidence of their claims after lodgement of the application.

Migration Alliance enquired with the DIBP upon seeing a report that an applicant who lodged their visa late on Friday was refused the Sponsorship application on midday Monday as the required evidence was not uploaded with the application.

Tourists from China, India and Indonesia are being treated like second-class citizens, according to Tourism & Transport Forum chief executive Margy Osmond by being slugged $135 for an Australian tourist visa, while Europeans pay $20.

China is the most important tourist market for Australia. Visitor numbers from China increased by 22% (864,000), and trip spend increased 32% ($7 billion) according statistics release by Tourism Research Australia late last year. India was one of the fastest growing markets for the year. Visitors from India have now reached 207,000 (up by 20%) and this moves India up three places to become our 8th largest market. Trip spend has grown by 39% and surpassed $1 billion for the first time.

“A Chinese tourist would be right to ask why they are being slugged $135 for a visa when other tourists can pay a fee as low as $20 – that is sending the wrong message to what will soon be our largest tourist market that we don't value their visitations as much as others," Tourism & Transport Forum chief executive Margy Osmond recently told the Australian Financial Review. TTF argued arrivals could increase even more rapidly if policy changes were made.

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Today, 8 March 2016, is International Women’s day – the day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. Undoubtedly, Australia has a lot to celebrate but it’s a day, to remind all how much more needs to be done to achieve gender equality in Australia and around the world.

The theme this year is “Pledge for Parity.” Writing in the Huffingpost, Sadhana Smiles the CEO of Harcourts Victoria, Founder of Links Fiji, author and public speaker says, “A lack of diversity in gender and/or race means that we are stifling our innovation, creativity and thinking, as well as the important cultural nuances of doing business offshore. Consider what impact will this have on business long term.”

In her article, the former Telstra Woman of the Year, points out some of the glaring issues facing women in Australia today: