Australian Immigration Daily News

The following email has been received from the AAT-MRD:

Submissions should only relate to the suitability of the matter to be heard as a video conference and not in relation to the substantive issues of the case. Please send all submissions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

As you’re aware, the Tribunal recently resumed limited in-person hearings at locations suitable for such arrangements, with the listing of in-person hearings considered on a case by case basis in accordance with the AAT’s practice directions. However, many MRD hearings will continue to be conducted by video/phone due to concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The following information is contained within the Minister's media release:

A carefully managed Migration Program is an important part of Australia’s economic recovery and will create jobs and bring high value investment to help Australia rebound from COVID-19. In 2020-21 the planned ceiling for the Migration Program will remain at 160,000 places.

The program will have a strong focus on attracting the best and brightest migrants from around the world, with a tripling of the Global Talent Independent program allocation to 15,000 places and an increase in the Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP) to 13,500 places. The BIIP will also be streamlined and reformed to ensure that investments are targeted at Australian venture capitals and emerging small and medium size businesses to support the economic recovery.

The Invitation Round took place on 06 October 2020. Invitations were issued as follows: 

457 / 482 visa holders: 14 invitations

• 190 nomination: 7 invitations
• 491 nomination: 7 invitations 

Matrix nominating Critical occupations: 91 invitations 

Recent announcement by the Northern Territory government confirmed plans to assist some 70 students flying from the island city-state to arrive in the country in this month.

The initiative comes from the regional government is working with Charles Darwin University on the project, with flights priced at around AUD$2,500.

“We have a lot of international students here. Over the last four years, we grew international student numbers from just over 1,000 to 2,500 … I don’t think we could get 2,500 in,” NT chief minister Michael Gunner told ABC Radio Darwin.

The following information has been released by the Government of Victoria in relation to State Sponsored Migration:

The Department of Home Affairs has now confirmed that we can continue to use our interim allocation places beyond 5 October.