Australian Immigration Daily News

There have been several announcements made by the government regarding job security and creation of training programs to ensure that further boost to the economy is maintained.

During a recent media release, Morrison government confirmed that it will “will create 250,000 extra jobs for young Australians.

We will back young Australians to secure a great job by giving them the chance to gain the right skills. With a stronger economy we are headed in the right direction. Last financial year, for the first time in history, more than 100,000 young Australians got a job. Youth unemployment is falling and is lower than it was under Labor, who left office with almost 55,000 fewer young people in work.

Over the last 12 months, OMARA sanctioned 28 Migration Agents for breaching the Code of Conduct.  These sanctions are published on OMARA’s website and publicly disclose the name of the Migration Agent, sanction details as well as nature of the investigation.

Understanding the Code of Conduct is vital for both the consumer as well as the agent. Code of Conduct is the key document which underpins the relationship between the Registered Migration Agent (RMA) and the regulator, the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) is the “Code of Conduct”. That document provides a framework for compliance and, in my view a useful platform for the development of successful practice in Migration law.

Although on one view the Code can be viewed as a compliance tool, I prefer to approach the Code as a codification of a system of work that requires a standardised approach which is ultimately beneficial rather than oppressive.

1. New Arrangements for Working Holiday Visas

The Department of Home Affairs has confirmed that From 1 July 2019, WHM visa holders who carry out 6 months of specified work in regional areas while on their second Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa or Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa may be eligible to apply for a third visa. Eligible types of work and regional areas will correspond with the requirements for the second visa. 

The 6 months work must all be carried out on or after 1 July 2019, so a successful application cannot be lodged before January 2020. 

Federal Government confirmed that Australia’s election will be held on 18 May 2019.

As a result, several migration bills have lapsed as a result. 

The following bills are impacted:

On Friday 5 May 2017, the Government confirmed that subject to the passage of relevant legislation, the temporary sponsored parent visa will be introduced during the 2017-18 Migration Programme year.  Due to lengthy delays involving passing of the legislation, the subclass 870 temporary parent visa was placed in an indefinite hiatus.

The temporary sponsored parent visa is designed to allow the parents of Australians to spend longer periods of time with their children in Australia without placing additional burden on Australia's health care system.  The introduction of the temporary sponsored parent visa was subject to passage of the Migration Amendment (Family Violence and other Measures) Bill 2016 (the Bill) through Parliament which was finally given Royal Assent in December 2018.

On 1 March 2019, Minister Coleman announced that applications to sponsor a parent for a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa will be open from 17 April 2019.