Australian Immigration Daily News

Australia and Thailand have agreed to increase the number of annual places available under the Work and Holiday visa program from 500 to 2,000.

Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs David Coleman said the increase will build on recent improvements to the program that have seen a 20 per cent increase in the number of working holiday makers working in regional areas.

“By making this successful program available to more young people we are giving regional Australia access to more workers to fill critical labour shortages,” Mr Coleman said. Thai nationals who undertake three months of specified work in a regional area are eligible to apply for a second Work and Holiday visa.

A 30 year-old Japanese tourist has been arrested and charged after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers allegedly found a large amount of child exploitation material on his mobile phone at Perth International Airport.

ABF officers selected the man for a baggage examination after he arrived on a flight from Tokyo on Saturday night (2 November). During the examination of his mobile phone officers located more than 200 video files and images.

Due to the large number of videos investigators reviewed only a small selection, which it will be alleged were found to depict the sexual abuse or exploitation of children.

Following recent media commentary, the ATO would like to clarify the likely impact of the recent court decision in Addy v Commissioner of Taxation.

This decision relates to whether an individual that entered Australia as a working holiday maker was a resident of Australia for tax purposes and whether that individual paid tax at the 15 per cent tax rate applying to working holiday maker income or at the rates applying to residents (which incorporate the tax-free threshold).

It is important to note that the ATO is still considering this decision and has not yet decided whether an appeal is appropriate. The Court found that, considering the individual facts of the case, the working holiday maker in question was a resident for tax purposes and that the non-discrimination article in the relevant treaty meant that the taxpayer was entitled to be taxed under the ordinary resident tax rates instead of at the 15 per cent rate that currently applies to working holiday makers.

Under the new program, highly skilled migrants in selected industries will receive a fasttracked process to permanent residency in Australia.

Applicants will have a dedicated Home Affairs contact to guide them through the process, and applications will receive the highest priority processing.

Applicants will be eligible for permanent residency if they are likely to earn more than $149,000 per year in Australia, and they are highly skilled in one of seven key industry sectors. The usual character, security and integrity checks will apply to all applicants.

This instrument amends the Migration (LIN 19/051: Specification of Occupations and Assessing Authorities) Instrument 2019 to make changes to the assessing authority for some occupations and removes references to the Subclass 489 visa that are no longer applicable.
Some or all of this item commenced on 1/11/2019

https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2019L01402