Australian Immigration Daily News

The purpose of the instrument is to specify that certain former Subclass 600 (Visitor) visa (Subclass 600 visa) holders can apply for a new Subclass 600 visa with a nil visa application charge (VAC) where their travel to or stay in Australia (or both) has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under subparagraph 1236(2)(a)(iv) of Schedule 1 to the Migration Regulations, the Minister may specify a class of persons who are applicants with a nil VAC amount for Visitor (Class FA) visas, which includes Subclass 600 visas. The instrument specifies that nil VAC is payable for applicants for a Subclass 600 visa in the Tourist, Sponsored Family, Business Visitor and Approved Destination streams, where those applicants meet criteria specified in the instrument. Applicants in the Frequent Traveller stream are excluded from this measure. This is because an application in the Frequent Traveller stream is excluded under paragraph 1236(2)(a) of Schedule 1 to the Migration Regulations, which provides the instrument making power.

Source: LIN21021.pdf

and

LIN21021-Explanatory-Statement.pdf