Australian Immigration Daily News

The extension will take effect from 1 July 2023.

The extension is in addition to the existing additional one to two years of post-study work rights available to eligible students who study, live and work in regional areas.

The allowable work hours cap will also increase from 40 hours a fortnight to 48 hours per fortnight.

Source: Extended-post-study-work-rights-for-international-graduates.pdf

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:

“Businesses are screaming out for skilled workers, particularly in the regions.

“We have got the second highest skills shortage in the developed world, according to the OECD. Skills shortages are everywhere.

“We teach and train these skilled workers. This will mean they can stay on longer and use the skills they’ve gained in Australia to help fill some of the chronic skills shortages we have right now.

“As well as delivering the skills and qualifications Australia needs, the measure will make Australia more attractive as a study destination, helping the recovery of the international education sector and boosting earnings from Australia’s education exports.”

Source: Addressing-skills-shortages-in-key-industries.pdf

The Migration Amendment (Status of Forces Agreement – Fiji and Timor-Leste) Regulations 2023 (the Regulations) amends the Migration Regulations 1994 (the Migration Regulations) to prescribe Fijian and Timor-Leste armed forces, civilian component personnel and their dependants, coming under the Reciprocal Access Agreement between Australia and Fiji and Australia and Timor-Leste respectively, for the purposes of being taken to be granted a SPV.

The Reciprocal Access Agreements relating to the cooperation between Australia and Fiji and Australia and Timor-Leste, also known as a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), were signed on 20 October 2022, and 7 September 2022, respectively. Under Article 24 of the Fiji Agreement and Article 5 the Timor-Leste Agreement, the SOFAs enter into force on the date on which the Parties exchange diplomatic notes informing each other that their respective internal procedures necessary to give effect to the Agreements have been completed.

Source: Migration-Amendment-Status-of-Forces-Agreement-Fiji-and-Timor-Leste-Regs-2023.pdf and

Migration-Amendment-Status-of-Forces-Agreement-Fiji-and-Timor-Leste-Regs-2023-Explanatory-Statement.pdf

Federal Government has taken a major step towards delivering on its commitment to strengthen Australia’s ties with the Pacific family

Quote attributable to Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Penny Wong:

“The Government is committed to making a uniquely Australian contribution as partner of choice for the countries of the Pacific – demonstrating we are reliable, we turn up, show respect, listen, and are transparent and open.”

Quote attributable to Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy:

“The Pacific Engagement Visa is an important change in our permanent migration system and is an important way of building people-to-people links with the Pacific family and deepening ties to the region that’s our home and critical to our future.

We will continue to listen to our partners in the Pacific and Timor-Leste as we finalise the design of the Pacific Engagement Visa and look forward to further discussions.”

17 FEB 2023: DEPT OF HOME AFFAIRS: Statement on Aggregate Sentences Act 2023 - On 17 February 2023, Migration Amendment (Aggregate Sentences) Act 2023 (the Aggregate Sentences Act) which amends the Migration Act 1958 (the Migration Act) came into effect 

The Aggregate Sentences Act responds to the Full Federal Court judgment in Pearson v Minister for Home Affairs [2022] FCAFC 203 (Pearson). The central finding of the judgment was that a single aggregate sentence, being a single sentence imposed for multiple offences, cannot be relied upon when assessing whether a person has a ‘substantial criminal record’ under s 501(7)(c) of the Migration Act, with consequences for the application of the character test.

The Aggregate Sentences Act amends the relevant provisions of the Migration Act, and makes it clear that an aggregate sentence can be relied upon for the purposes of considering if a person has a substantial criminal record, which is relevant to the application of the character test. The Aggregate Sentences Act also validates, with retrospective operation, past decisions that would otherwise have been invalid because of the Pearson decision.

Source: Statement-on-Aggregated-Sentences-Act-2023.pdf