Australian Immigration Daily News

The Migration Act 1958 is a set of rules about who can come to, stay in, or leave Australia, especially non-citizens. It says the government can create more detailed rules (regulations) to follow the Act properly.

Now, the Migration Amendment (Resolution of Status Visa Additional Cohort) Regulations 2023 changes some of these detailed rules. It helps people affected by a court case called Love v Commonwealth; Thoms v Commonwealth. These changes allow certain non-citizens who are recognized differently under the law because they're Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander to get a permanent visa (Subclass 851 - Resolution of Status). This visa also helps them access government support.

The court said that some people who aren't citizens or regular non-citizens can't be detained or removed from Australia under these rules. So, the new regulations create a way for these people to apply for a special visa if they've been offered permanent stay in Australia and meet certain conditions.

Please find a link below which contains the revised communications toolkit (and resources) from Transport for NSW, with additional information on the 1 July 2023 policy changes for overseas drivers. 

Here are the summarized key points from the provided information about the changes in the Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Regulation 2017, effective from July 1, 2023:

1. Changes Impacting Overseas Drivers:

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The Australian Government has implemented Ministerial Direction No. 107 to establish priority guidelines for processing student and student guardian visa applications, signed on December 14, 2023.

This directive formalizes processing priorities based on different education sectors and institutes' evidence levels. It prioritizes certain applicant categories, like those applying from outside Australia in specific sectors or studying at institutes with Evidence Level 1.

Additionally, it emphasizes unmarried family members under 18 in subsequent entrant applications and gives high priority to Student Guardian visa applications.

The Migration (Class of persons for Visitor (Class FA) visa nil VAC) Repeal (LIN 23/069) Instrument 2023 is a legal directive that nullifies and revokes the previous provisions related to the Visitor (Class FA) visa application fee waivers.

This instrument essentially removes the exemption for specific individuals from paying the visa application charge for the Visitor visa subclass FA. As a result, individuals who were previously exempted from this fee will now be required to pay the stipulated visa application charge when applying for the Visitor visa.

This repeal marks a change in the visa application process and fee requirements for certain individuals applying for the Visitor visa subclass FA.

Significant changes to Australia’s migration system, announced today by the Federal Government, will deliver better long-term outcomes by better targeting key skill shortages, lifting productivity and strengthening the economy, according to the Business Council.

BCA Chief Executive Bran Black said the Migration Strategy included many important changes called for by the BCA, including better long-term permanent migration planning that would enable better linkages with housing and infrastructure planning.

“Australia’s prosperity, our jobs, our living standards and the strength of our economy are all directly linked to a successful, efficient and well targeted migration program and these changes get the balance right,” Mr Black said.

“We need nurses for health and aged care, specialist engineers to support our energy transition, and experts for cyber security, and by filling these roles we are supporting Australian businesses and at the same time improving the lives of Australians.”

Source: Migration-changes-will-boost-Australias-economy-while-supporting-better-long-term-planning-for-infrastructure.pdf