Australian Immigration Daily News

The Global Skills Attraction Fact Sheet and information below have been provided by the Department of Home Affairs' Immigration Outreach and Engagement Branch:

GSA-Fact-Sheet-1.pdf

Following the Jobs and Skills Summit in September 2022, the Australian Government announced increases to the permanent Migration program from 160,000 to 195,000 to help address Australia’s skill shortage.

Overview of the Bill

The Migration Amendment (Aggregate Sentences) Bill 2023 (the Bill) amends the Migration Act 1958 (the Migration Act) in response to the decision of the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia in Pearson v Minister for Home Affairs [2022] FCAFC 203 (Pearson).

The purpose of the Bill is to amend the Act to provide a clear basis for aggregate sentences (that is, one sentence imposed in respect of more than one offence) to be taken into account for all relevant purposes under the Migration Act. This is of particular relevance for the application of the character test in section 501 of the Act.

Source: Migration-Amendment-Aggregate-Sentences-Bill-2023.pdf and 

Migration-Amendment-Aggregate-Sentences-Bill-2023---explanatory-memorandum.pdf

Purpose

Subregulation 2.12H(1) of the Regulations provides that the Minister must refund the amount paid by way of the second instalment of the visa application charge (VAC) in relation to an application for a visa if any of the circumstances mentioned in subregulation 2.12H(2) exists and the Minister has received a written request for a refund.

The circumstance set out by paragraph 2.12H(2)(f) is that the amount was paid under a provision of Schedule 1 to the Regulations specified in an instrument in writing and, within the period of 12 months starting on the applicant’s visa commencement day (within the meaning of the Immigration (Education) Act 1971), certain events specified in paragraph 2.12H(2)(f) occur.

The instrument specifies provisions of Schedule 1 to the Regulations for this purpose. The instrument will ensure ongoing access to VAC refunds for applicants who made applications for the visas listed in the Schedule to the instrument and to whom an event mentioned in paragraph 2.12H(2)(f) applies.

Source: LIN23022.pdf and LIN23022-Explanatory-statement.pdf

A person who is the holder of a valid passport issued by a designated APEC economy, and who has applied to the Government of the designated APEC economy for an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) under arrangements in force between Australia and designated APEC economies is taken to have made a valid application for a Subclass 600 (Visitor) visa in the Business Visitor stream by operation of regulation 2.07AA of the Migration Regulations. The ABTC scheme provides accredited business people streamlined entry to participating economies.

The instrument commences retrospectively on 2 October 2022. This means that where a designated APEC economy passport holder has applied to the designated APEC economy for an ABTC on or after that date, the person will be taken to have made a valid application for a Subclass 600 (Visitor) visa in the Business Visitor stream.

Source: LIN23008.pdf and LIN23008-Explanatory-statement.pdf

PURPOSE AND OPERATION

The TPS arrangements, including the TPS levy, commenced on 1 July 2012 and are designed to establish a universal tuition protection framework in respect of overseas students. This framework benefits overseas students affected by a provider default, by providing students with placement options or refunds where placement is not available. The arrangements are also designed to protect the considerable investment overseas students make in an Australian education, and to protect and enhance Australia’s reputation as a destination of choice for overseas students.

Source: Education-Services-for-Overseas-Students---TPS-Levies.pdf and Education-Services-for-Overseas-Students---TPS-Levies-Explanatory-Statement.pdf