Australian Immigration Daily News

The following information is contained within the Minister's media release:

A carefully managed Migration Program is an important part of Australia’s economic recovery and will create jobs and bring high value investment to help Australia rebound from COVID-19. In 2020-21 the planned ceiling for the Migration Program will remain at 160,000 places.

The program will have a strong focus on attracting the best and brightest migrants from around the world, with a tripling of the Global Talent Independent program allocation to 15,000 places and an increase in the Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP) to 13,500 places. The BIIP will also be streamlined and reformed to ensure that investments are targeted at Australian venture capitals and emerging small and medium size businesses to support the economic recovery.

The Invitation Round took place on 06 October 2020. Invitations were issued as follows: 

457 / 482 visa holders: 14 invitations

• 190 nomination: 7 invitations
• 491 nomination: 7 invitations 

Matrix nominating Critical occupations: 91 invitations 

Recent announcement by the Northern Territory government confirmed plans to assist some 70 students flying from the island city-state to arrive in the country in this month.

The initiative comes from the regional government is working with Charles Darwin University on the project, with flights priced at around AUD$2,500.

“We have a lot of international students here. Over the last four years, we grew international student numbers from just over 1,000 to 2,500 … I don’t think we could get 2,500 in,” NT chief minister Michael Gunner told ABC Radio Darwin.

The following information has been released by the Government of Victoria in relation to State Sponsored Migration:

The Department of Home Affairs has now confirmed that we can continue to use our interim allocation places beyond 5 October.

The Department of Home Affairs updated their information in relation to travel exemptions for APEC card holders.

Travellers are exempt from travel restrictions, and can leave Australia without applying for an exemption if they are:

• ordinarily resident in a country other than Australia
• an airline, maritime crew or associated safety worker
• a New Zealand citizen holding a Special Category (subclass 444) visa
• engaged in the day-to-day conduct of outbound freight
• associated with essential work at Australian offshore facilities
• travelling on official government business, including members of the Australian Defence Force.

If a traveller holds an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travel Card (ABTC) they are not automatically exempt. Such individuals can apply for an exemption and provide evidence to support any relevant claims to travel claims.