Australian Immigration Daily News

AHPPC continues to monitor the effectiveness of the travel restrictions and self-quarantine procedures for people coming from mainland China. These measures have been successful to date, with a more than 60 per cent reduction in travellers and no cases detected in more than 30,000 Australians returning from mainland China since 1 February 2020.

This has been assisted by travel restrictions imposed by China. In addition, a significant number of students from China have spent 14 or more days in third countries and have arrived in Australia to commence or continue their studies, again with no cases detected in this group.

The only new COVID-19 detections in Australia in the last two weeks are eight cases in Australian passengers repatriated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship. There remains no evidence of community transmission in Australia, with thousands of negative tests for COVID-19 in the last week alone. 

Recommendation 1
2.42 The committee recommends that the Senate pass the bills without delay.

Source: MA-REG-BILL-SENATE.pdf

The ANMF notes that a number of Registered Nurse occupations (14) are a standard inclusion on the MLTSSL list and has been the case for a number of years under previous temporary visa categories.

While the MLTSSL list is directed to whether an occupation might be needed in two to ten years’ time we are not aware of evidence to suggest there is, or will be a genuine and unexpected skill shortage of Registered Nurses in that time frame.

We are aware that some employers report difficulties recruiting (and retaining) registered nurses in some sectors and locations such as aged care and regional and remote areas, but in general, this is not related to a lack of supply of registered nurses.

This instrument operates to specify the approved form for making a valid application for a number of visa classes. The instrument also operates to specify the place for lodgement and the manner in which an application must be made to ensure a valid application is made for the relevant visa class.
Item was tabled on 24/02/2020
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L00148

Migration (LIN 20/045: Class of persons for Visitor (Class FA) visa applications) Instrument 2020
This instrument operates for the Minister to specify classes of persons to whom subparagraph 1236(2)(a)(iv) of Schedule 1 to the Regulations applies. For applicants included in these classes of persons, the first instalment of the visa application charge amount is nil. As a response to the cancellation of visas as a direct consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic, the instrument creates arrangements for applicants who are in Australia and who are former Visitor (Class FA) visa holders and whose visas were cancelled due to the risk of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern designated by the World Health Organisation, to the health, safety or good order the Australian community, or a segment of that community.
Item was registered on 24/02/2020
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L00157


Migration (LIN 20/046: Arrangements for Visitor (Class FA) Visa Applications) Instrument 2020
This instrument operates for the Minister to specify the approved forms, place and manner for making a valid visa application for a Visitor (Class FA) visa, and specify for the Approved Destination Status stream in the Visitor (Class FA) visa, which includes the Subclass 600 (Visitor) visa, the travel agents that may organise a tour of which an applicant must be intending to travel to Australia as a member of that tour.
As a response to the cancellation of visas as a direct consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic, the instrument creates arrangements for applicants who are in Australia and who are former Visitor (Class FA) visa holders and whose visas were cancelled due to the risk of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern designated by the World Health Organisation, to the health, safety or good order the Australian community, or a segment of that community.
Item was registered on 24/02/2020
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L00160


Migration (LIN 20/099: Class of Persons for Student (Temporary) (Class TU) Visa Applications) Instrument 2020
This instrument operates for the Minister to specify classes of persons to whom subparagraph 1222(2)(a)(i) of Schedule 1 to the Regulations applies. For applicants included in these classes of persons, the first instalment of the visa application charge amount is nil. As a response to the cancellation of visas as a direct consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic, the instrument creates arrangements for applicants who are in Australia and who are former Student (Temporary) (Class TU) visa holders and whose visas were cancelled due to the risk of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern designated by the World Health Organisation, to the health, safety or good order the Australian community, or a segment of that community.
Item was registered on 24/02/2020
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L00158


Migration (LIN 20/102: Arrangements for Student (Temporary) (Class TU) visa applications) Instrument 2020
This instrument operates for the Minister to specify the approved forms, and the place and manner for making a valid application for an Item 1222 Student (Temporary) (Class TU) visa. As a response to the cancellation of visas as a direct consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic, the instrument creates arrangements for applicants who are in Australia and who are former Student (Temporary) (Class TU) visa holders and whose visas were cancelled due to the risk of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern designated by the World Health Organisation, to the health, safety or good order the Australian community, or a segment of that community.
Item was registered on 24/02/2020
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L00156