The Full Court of the Federal Court has issued a decision which is likely to transform or even revolutionise the way that applications for partner visas are assessed in Australia!! 

How often does that happen? Not very often at all!! 

So it is exciting, dramatic and important when it does!!! 

The Full Court of the Federal Court issued a decision on Friday 11 March which holds that the Department's discretion not to apply Schedule 3 criteria in partner visas is not limited to consideration only of "compelling and compassionate circumstances" which were in existence at the time of the application.

Under this ruling, the Department (and the Tribunal) are required to take into account circumstances which arose after the application was made but before the application was determined.

This decision obviously has immense significance for people who do not hold substantive visas at the time that they are making onshore applications for partner visas, and for RMAs who are advising them.

Women and fighting.  Not really a traditional "girl's choice" for sport.  

Dominique Firriolo is an Australian female Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fighter.  She's ranked number 1 in Australia in her division, and is forging ahead in a male-dominated sport.  I can't resist promoting Dominique (of Italian heritage), to help her to reach her dreams.  Yes, my choice is extreme, but then when have I ever been one to choose a nice, safe path?  C'mon RMAs.  Let's help Dominique! #IWD2016

The theme of IWD 2016 is #PledgeforParity

"Everyone - men and women - can pledge to take a concrete step to help achieve gender parity more quickly - whether to help women and girls achieve their ambitions, call for gender-balanced leadership, respect and value difference, develop more inclusive and flexible cultures or root out workplace bias. Each of us can be a leader within our own spheres of influence and commit to take pragmatic action to accelerate gender parity."

InternationalWomensDay.com 

There has been another important decision from the Full Court of the Federal Court which both clarifies the scope of the Minister’s personal power to cancel a visa on character grounds, and gives further explanation of the concept of “legal unreasonableness”. 

This decision came in the case of Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v Eden (2016) FCAFC, handed down on 9 March. 

Just like the Full Court’s recent decision in Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v Stretton (2016) FCAFC 11, the decision in the Eden case illustrates that visa holders who are seeking to challenge a personal decision by the Minister to cancel a visa on the basis that the cancellation was somehow “disproportionate” in the circumstances are going to face a very (very!) difficult and uphill battle in the courts. 

Self-managed super funds (SMSF) are currently the fastest growing sector in the Australian Superannuation Industry. With so many Australians making the move, you may wonder what the benefits are, and if it’s a suitable option for you. Superannuation Property recommends weighing up the benefits and risks before establishing an SMSF.

SMSF benefits

The clear benefit of an SMSF is that you are 100% in control of your investment strategy and you may directly monitor and control where and how your super is invested. You have complete choice over asset selection, and this is where many of our clients get excited about investing into property, if it’s suitable for their situation.