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Australian Immigration News 29 January 2020
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- Sydney Morning Herald reports the Department of Home Affairs has advised that the plan to outsource Australia’s visa processing system will likely require supporting legislation. The Labor Opposition the Greens and Centre Alliance have indicated they would not support the proposal in the Senate, with Labor citing concerns about the potential risks of visa privatisation. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Immigration Minister David Coleman have recused themselves from cabinet discussions on the issue due to their long personal and professional relationships with Scott Briggs, who is leading the bid by Australian Visa Processing.
- Australian Financial Review reports on how different economic sectors have been affected by the outbreak of the coronovirus. In the university sector, the government's Global Reputation Task Force for the university sector has been given an expanded remit to respond to the virus. Task force chair Phil Honeywood expressed concerns about the long-term threat to enrolments from China. He advised that Australia give a sympathetic and generous response to any prospective students from China or risk losing the market to countries such as Canada and the UK, which already have attractive visa programs for Chinese students.
Visa outsourcing plan thrown into doubt by Home Affairs advice
Sydney Morning Herald, Other, 28/01/2020
A $1 billion plan to outsource Australia's visa processing system could be derailed by crossbench senators after the Department of Home Affairs warned the changes would likely need to be legislated. The official advice throws into doubt the future of the project to build and manage a new online system to process and provide visas for more than nine million applicants a year.
Sky News Live, Credlin, 28/01/2020, Chris Smith
Interview with Alan Tudge, Acting Immigration Minister. Smith says a crackdown on aircraft passengers and their Visas has led to a surge in the number of people refused entry to Australia. [...] He notes many people do apply for a different Visa once they are here.
ABC Radio Darwin , Morning Show, 29/01/2020, Adam Steer and Jo Laverty
Interview with Simon Maddocks, Vice-Chancellor, Charles Darwin University. Steer says the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have upgraded their advice level today for the Coronavirus, asking Australians to reconsider travelling to Mainland China.
How the coronavirus is hitting business
Australian Financial Review, Other, 28/01/2020, Matthew Cranston, Edmund Tadros, Angela Macdonald-Smith, Simon Evans, Liam Walsh, Nick Lenaghan, Aleks Vickovich & Michael Smith
It used to be said that when the US sneezed Australia would catch a flu. So what happens when China, our biggest export partner, catches a virus? As the new strain of the coronavirus spreads, everything important to the Australian economy starts to take a hit - from iron ore prices to tourism. Tourists were tightlipped at Mrs Macquarie's chair in Sydney today.
Student digs fill up amid China exodus
Australian Financial Review, Other, 28/01/2020, Nick Lenaghan & Robert Bolton
Student accommodation operator Scape said the coronavirus outbreak had been expected to delay arrivals of students from China given millions of people are banned from travelling. Around 60 per cent of the beds in Scape's portfolio are typically occupied by students from the greater China region. But in fact, it appears the opposite is happening. "That was the expectation on Friday. Over the weekend we've had a huge number of enquiries from students wanting to arrive early," said Scape executive chairman Craig Carracher.
Post-Brexit Britain weighs up opening the door wider on visas
Australian Financial Review, Other, 28/01/2020, Hans van Leeuwen
Britain's government will consider lowering the salary threshold for work visas after Brexit, potentially opening the door for more Australian nurses, teachers and junior professionals to resume coming to Blighty in larger numbers. The recommendation came in a report on Tuesday from the influential Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), a group of independent expert advisers, which the government had asked to assess the merits of an "Australian-style points-based immigration system" - a policy much favoured in Brexiteer circles.
Migration committee rejects full points-based system for UK
Guardian Australia, Other, 29/01/2020, Amelia Gentleman, Peter Walker & Lisa O'Carroll
Report gives first detailed insight into how immigration system might look after Brexit The independent migration advisory committee has rejected a full shift to an Australian points-based system, publishing detailed research which gives a picture of how a reformed immigration system might look after Brexit and the ending of freedom of movement for EU nationals.
What a points-based immigration system might mean for the UK
Guardian Australia, Other, 29/01/2020, Amelia Gentleman & Jamie Grierson
For months the phrase "Australian points-based immigration system" has been used as political shorthand for a more controlled immigration system, but beneath the headline there has been little understanding of what this might mean in the UK. The home secretary asked the government’s official migration policy advisers to review the Australian immigration system to "advise on what best practice can be used to strengthen the UK labour market and attract the best and brightest from around the world".
How the coronavirus is hitting business
Australian Financial Review, Other, 28/01/2020, Matthew Cranston, Edmund Tadros, Angela Macdonald-Smith, Simon Evans, Liam Walsh, Nick Lenaghan, Aleks Vickovich & Michael Smith
It used to be said that when the US sneezed Australia would catch a flu. So what happens when China, our biggest export partner, catches a virus? As the new strain of the coronavirus spreads, everything important to the Australian economy starts to take a hit - from iron ore prices to tourism. Tourists were tightlipped at Mrs Macquarie's chair in Sydney today.
Student digs fill up amid China exodus
Australian Financial Review, Other, 28/01/2020, Nick Lenaghan & Robert Bolton
Student accommodation operator Scape said the coronavirus outbreak had been expected to delay arrivals of students from China given millions of people are banned from travelling. Around 60 per cent of the beds in Scape's portfolio are typically occupied by students from the greater China region. But in fact, it appears the opposite is happening. "That was the expectation on Friday. Over the weekend we've had a huge number of enquiries from students wanting to arrive early," said Scape executive chairman Craig Carracher.
Post-Brexit Britain weighs up opening the door wider on visas
Australian Financial Review, Other, 28/01/2020, Hans van Leeuwen
Britain's government will consider lowering the salary threshold for work visas after Brexit, potentially opening the door for more Australian nurses, teachers and junior professionals to resume coming to Blighty in larger numbers. The recommendation came in a report on Tuesday from the influential Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), a group of independent expert advisers, which the government had asked to assess the merits of an "Australian-style points-based immigration system" - a policy much favoured in Brexiteer circles.
Migration committee rejects full points-based system for UK
Guardian Australia, Other, 29/01/2020, Amelia Gentleman, Peter Walker & Lisa O'Carroll
Report gives first detailed insight into how immigration system might look after Brexit The independent migration advisory committee has rejected a full shift to an Australian points-based system, publishing detailed research which gives a picture of how a reformed immigration system might look after Brexit and the ending of freedom of movement for EU nationals.
What a points-based immigration system might mean for the UK
Guardian Australia, Other, 29/01/2020, Amelia Gentleman & Jamie Grierson
For months the phrase "Australian points-based immigration system" has been used as political shorthand for a more controlled immigration system, but beneath the headline there has been little understanding of what this might mean in the UK. The home secretary asked the government’s official migration policy advisers to review the Australian immigration system to "advise on what best practice can be used to strengthen the UK labour market and attract the best and brightest from around the world".
