Australian Immigration Daily News

The Director, Migration Assistance Policy Section, Immigration Policy Framework Branch, Immigration and Community Protection Policy Division,  Immigration and Settlement Services Group from the Department of Home Affairs has provided this response to Migration Alliance:

The State and Territory nominated visa programs will play an important part in Australia’s economic recovery and continue to be a part of the Migration Program. The Australian Government is considering how best to shape the Migration Program into the future to drive economic growth and support job creation. Nominations will be made available to States and Territories in line with these considerations, in the following categories:

• Skilled – Nominated (subclass 190).
• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491).
• Business Innovation and Investment Program.

With regard to the invitation rounds for Skilled Independent (subclass 189) and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (Family Sponsored) (subclass 491), the Government is closely monitoring migration and visa settings to ensure they are consistent with public health measures, are flexible and do not displace job opportunities for Australians so that Australia can deal with the immediate and post recovery impacts of COVID-19. Targeted invitation rounds have continued each month and prioritise skills which are in critical need and will aid Australia’s economic recovery. 

Executive Chairman of Atlas Advisors Australia Guy Hedley said many high net worth individuals in Hong Kong were turning to investor migration programs around the world to seek a new path in life.

Reopening Australia’s Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP) is critical to attract Hong Kong’s most wealthy investors, he said.

“Appetite for investment and migration in Australia from Hong Kong’s highest net worth individuals is ramping up,” Mr Hedley said.

“Australia must maintain a globally competitive migration program if it’s going to attract Hong Kong’s most wealthy investor migrants while also offering a safe haven to citizens in need.”

Source: Australia-needs-Hong-Kongs-high-net-worth-investors-seeking-refuge.pdf

NT State Nomination Authority

2020 to 2021 program year update 

The Australian Government has not yet allocated nomination quotas to the states and territories for the 2020 to 2021 program year. 

This means that the Northern Territory (NT) Government is currently unable to issue nominations under the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program and the Business Investment and Innovation Program (BIIP). 

At this stage, if you are currently living in the NT, you will still be able to lodge new applications for NT nomination under the GSM program, and these applications will continue to be assessed. Offshore GSM nomination applications remain closed. BIIP nomination applications remain open. 

Source:  Benchmark

The General Skilled Migration (GSM) program for the 2019/20 financial year has now closed. 

The State & Territory nomination program will remain temporarily CLOSED until the Commonwealth Government s allocation of state nomination places for 2020-21 takes place. This means that State & Territory governments have no ability to nominate applicants in visa subclass 190 & visa subclass 491. 

The GSM 2020/21 program year is scheduled to re-open from early August however, changes to the composition of the Australian Migration program might be made in October under the new budget.