Australian Immigration Daily News

It is evident that approximately about 80 percent of migrants settle in Sydney or Melbourne.  The remainder choose the rest of the eastern coast region.  Far and few travel outside metropolitan regions. Meanwhile, many regional towns continue to experience population decline and struggle to maintain the viability of basic services.  For example, a town of Pilbara has experienced consistent decline it it’s population.

Migration policy should take into account local population density and needs and encourage migrants to settle in regional Australia.

The National Farmers Federation is seeking that government makes further incentives for migrants to travel to regional Australia to ensure that population growth is evenly spread.  For example, some incentive ideas include:

The 188 Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (EB-188) is designed for individuals with vast  Business Skills.  A subclass 188 is a provisional visa, it may however lead to permanent residence assuming an individual is able to meet eligibility criteria pertaining to grant of permanent residence.

EB-188 has the following streams:

-        Business Innovation  (188A)

There have been several announcements made by the government regarding job security and creation of training programs to ensure that further boost to the economy is maintained.

During a recent media release, Morrison government confirmed that it will “will create 250,000 extra jobs for young Australians.

We will back young Australians to secure a great job by giving them the chance to gain the right skills. With a stronger economy we are headed in the right direction. Last financial year, for the first time in history, more than 100,000 young Australians got a job. Youth unemployment is falling and is lower than it was under Labor, who left office with almost 55,000 fewer young people in work.

Over the last 12 months, OMARA sanctioned 28 Migration Agents for breaching the Code of Conduct.  These sanctions are published on OMARA’s website and publicly disclose the name of the Migration Agent, sanction details as well as nature of the investigation.

Understanding the Code of Conduct is vital for both the consumer as well as the agent. Code of Conduct is the key document which underpins the relationship between the Registered Migration Agent (RMA) and the regulator, the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) is the “Code of Conduct”. That document provides a framework for compliance and, in my view a useful platform for the development of successful practice in Migration law.

Although on one view the Code can be viewed as a compliance tool, I prefer to approach the Code as a codification of a system of work that requires a standardised approach which is ultimately beneficial rather than oppressive.

1. New Arrangements for Working Holiday Visas

The Department of Home Affairs has confirmed that From 1 July 2019, WHM visa holders who carry out 6 months of specified work in regional areas while on their second Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa or Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa may be eligible to apply for a third visa. Eligible types of work and regional areas will correspond with the requirements for the second visa. 

The 6 months work must all be carried out on or after 1 July 2019, so a successful application cannot be lodged before January 2020.