Amidst complaints and media criticism on the dumping of the non-contributory visas for aged relatives namely the aged parent, aged dependent relative, remaining relative and carer visas, Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has said that the visa had to go for now but indicated he could reinstate applications in future, according to a report in the Herald Sun.

Speaking to the Herald Sun, the Minister said that he recognised the decision was disappointing but the categories had to go because the waiting lists had blown out to as long as 16 years for some of the categories.

“Given the queues that had developed, it would be inappropriate to accept further ­applications and give people the false expectation that visas could be granted soon,” Mr Morrison said, speaking to The Herald Sun.

He said it was his “sincere hope” he could reinstate applications once the backlog was under control. Until then, visas would only be issued for previous applicants. The Ministers has however provided no further details.

One of the major complaints, as noted in the news report is that, families were caught off-guard: “Families are being forced to pay almost $50,000 to bring an elderly parent to Australia and care for them in their twilight years after a much cheaper $5000 visa closed, catching some off-guard…people were given just hours’ notice on a government website on May 30 of the closure of the applicants that day” reports the Herald Sun.

According to the Herald Sun, Theresa Webster, an only child, brought her British mother, Helen, 86, to Melbourne from South Africa last month to care for her, rather than send her to an aged care home in a country where she has no family to visit her. But applications closed ­before they touched down and Ms Webster said she would have to send her mother back, as she was unable to pay the ­increase from $5000 to $50,000.

Ms Webster said her mother was dejected and “that’s very sad for an 86-year-old lady”.

“For elderly people, that’s their life — their children and their grandchildren and their great-grandchildren,” she said.