Australian Immigration Daily News

The Advisory Group will provide expert advice to the Australian Government on matters relating to the migration advice industry, including potential reforms to the legislative framework governing the industry. This may include:
• supporting the Review of Migration Agents Instruments being undertaken by the Department of Home Affairs, including the Migration Act 1958 (the Act), the Migration Agents Regulations 1998 (the Regulations) and associated instruments
• providing advice on developing a world class migration advice industry including improvements to qualification standards, professional standards and addressing misconduct and unlawful activity
• shaping the Government’s strategy for engagement with the industry
• providing fair and frank advice on all other matters related to the efficient functioning and future growth of the industry

Source: Migration-Advice-Industry-Advisory-Group-Nomination.pdf

The instrument repeals the Migration (LIN 20/104: Subclass 462 (Work and Holiday) Visa – Specified Areas of Australia and Kinds of Work) Instrument 2020 (LIN 20/104) (F2020L00223) made under regulation 1.15FA of the Regulations in accordance with subsection 33(3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (the AIA). Subsection 33(3) of the AIA states that where an Act confers a power to make, grant or issue any instrument of a legislative or administrative character, the power shall be construed as including a power exercisable in the like manner and subject to the like conditions (if any) to repeal, rescind, revoke, amend, or vary any such instrument.

The instrument operates to specify, under 1.15FA of the Regulations, areas of Australia and kinds of work for the purposes of the definition of specified Subclass 462 work in regulation 1.03 of the Regulations. Paragraphs 462.218(a) and 462.219(a) of Schedule 2 to the Regulations require an applicant for a second or third Subclass 462 (Work and Holiday) visa (Subclass 462 visa) to have carried out a period or periods of specified Subclass 462 work.

The purpose of the instrument is to specify critical COVID-19 work in the healthcare and medical sectors carried out after 31 January 2020 in any Australian postcode area for the purposes of the definition of specified Subclass 462 work in regulation 1.03 of the Regulations. COVID-19 is defined in section 4 of the instrument.

Source: LIN20184.pdf and LIN20184-Explanatory-Statement.pdf

The instrument repeals Migration (LIN 20/103: Subclass 417 (Working Holiday) Visa – Regional Australia and Specified Work) Instrument 2020 (LIN 20/103) (F2020L00224) made under subitem 1225(5) of Schedule 1 to the Regulations in accordance with subsection 33(3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (the AIA). Subsection 33(3) of the AIA states that where an Act confers a power to make, grant or issue any instrument of a legislative or administrative character, the power shall be construed as including a power exercisable in the like manner and subject to the like conditions (if any) to repeal, rescind, revoke, amend, or vary any such instrument.

The instrument operates to specify places and kinds of work for the definitions of regional Australia and specified work in subitem 1225(5) of Schedule 1 to the Regulations, respectively, for the Working Holiday (Temporary) (Class TZ) visa (Class TZ visa). Paragraphs 417.211(5)(a) and 417.211(6)(a) of Schedule 2 to the Regulations require an applicant for a second or third Subclass 417 (Working Holiday) visa (Subclass 417 visa) within the Class TZ visa, to have carried out a period or periods of specified work in regional Australia.

Source: LIN20182.pdf and LIN20182-explanatory-statement.pdf

The following email has been received this morning:

The Commonwealth Department of Home Affairs has provided a limited number of visa nomination places to the Victorian Government up until the Federal Budget is delivered on 6 October 2020.

We are preparing to re-open with new policies and nomination criteria to support Victoria’s economic recovery and the public health response.

The following message is on the College of Law website:

The College of Law announces today that its arrangement with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) on the important work of the Migration Agents Capstone Assessment will conclude on 31 December 2020 as per our Agreement. 

The College established the Capstone assessment at a time when the Department was implementing a new regime for testing and licensing of migration agents. The Capstone is now fully established and the College is pleased with its contribution to the Migration Agents registration regime. We wish the Department well with its oversight of the important work which migration agents do on behalf of the Australian community.