Australian Immigration Daily News

The instrument repeals the Migration (LIN 20/104: Subclass 462 (Work and Holiday) Visa – Specified Areas of Australia and Kinds of Work) Instrument 2020 (LIN 20/104) (F2020L00223) made under regulation 1.15FA of the Regulations in accordance with subsection 33(3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (the AIA). Subsection 33(3) of the AIA states that where an Act confers a power to make, grant or issue any instrument of a legislative or administrative character, the power shall be construed as including a power exercisable in the like manner and subject to the like conditions (if any) to repeal, rescind, revoke, amend, or vary any such instrument.

The instrument operates to specify, under 1.15FA of the Regulations, areas of Australia and kinds of work for the purposes of the definition of specified Subclass 462 work in regulation 1.03 of the Regulations. Paragraphs 462.218(a) and 462.219(a) of Schedule 2 to the Regulations require an applicant for a second or third Subclass 462 (Work and Holiday) visa (Subclass 462 visa) to have carried out a period or periods of specified Subclass 462 work.

The purpose of the instrument is to specify critical COVID-19 work in the healthcare and medical sectors carried out after 31 January 2020 in any Australian postcode area for the purposes of the definition of specified Subclass 462 work in regulation 1.03 of the Regulations. COVID-19 is defined in section 4 of the instrument.

Source: LIN20184.pdf and LIN20184-Explanatory-Statement.pdf

The instrument repeals Migration (LIN 20/103: Subclass 417 (Working Holiday) Visa – Regional Australia and Specified Work) Instrument 2020 (LIN 20/103) (F2020L00224) made under subitem 1225(5) of Schedule 1 to the Regulations in accordance with subsection 33(3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (the AIA). Subsection 33(3) of the AIA states that where an Act confers a power to make, grant or issue any instrument of a legislative or administrative character, the power shall be construed as including a power exercisable in the like manner and subject to the like conditions (if any) to repeal, rescind, revoke, amend, or vary any such instrument.

The instrument operates to specify places and kinds of work for the definitions of regional Australia and specified work in subitem 1225(5) of Schedule 1 to the Regulations, respectively, for the Working Holiday (Temporary) (Class TZ) visa (Class TZ visa). Paragraphs 417.211(5)(a) and 417.211(6)(a) of Schedule 2 to the Regulations require an applicant for a second or third Subclass 417 (Working Holiday) visa (Subclass 417 visa) within the Class TZ visa, to have carried out a period or periods of specified work in regional Australia.

Source: LIN20182.pdf and LIN20182-explanatory-statement.pdf

The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) is working with providers to minimise the impact COVID-19 has on both providers and students.

Coronavirus regulatory information for universities VET, ELICOS and higher education providers

DET to reduce administrative burden for higher education providers while they respond to the COVID‑19 situation, DET, Skills and Employment will be delaying a number of higher education activities, such as reports and data required from higher education providers.

Eligibility for the Australian Government Endorsed Events (AGEEs) activity type is based on the Minister listing major Australian events in a legislative instrument which was released in April 2020 this year. The instrument also includes the classes of persons eligible under this activity type. They must be invited by the event organiser.

This allows the Department to manage most, if not all, visa applications associated with an AGEE through a single visa pathway. The visa criteria are streamlined to take into account that the event and the activities associated with the event have already been assessed and approved by the Department. Visa applicants continue to be subject to genuine temporary entry requirements and other standard Subclass 480 criteria.  The GTE criterion has also been eased to include evidence that you will abide by your visa conditions and evidence that you do not intend to use this visa for longer than expected to prolong your stay in Australia.

The maximum stay for this visa is 12 months, however, there has been a number of setbacks with this visa including:

If you are an Australian citizen or a permanent resident you cannot leave Australia due to COVID-19 restrictions unless you have an exemption.

The Australian Borderforce moved to an online lodgement system where you can lodge your restriction by creating a secure account.  Unlike the previous system you will be able monitor the progress of your exemption.  The processing times have also improved to 24 to 48 hours. 

However you must meet at least one of the following: