Australian Immigration Daily News

The document titled "Migration Visa Pre-Application Process Charge Amendment Work and Holiday Visa Regulations 2024 - Explanatory Statement" outlines amendments to the Migration (Visa Pre-application Process) Charge Regulations 2024. These amendments, issued under the authority of the Migration (Visa Pre-application Process) Charge Act 2023, specifically focus on the Subclass 462 (Work and Holiday) visa.

Key points include:

1. Charge Implementation: A charge of $25 is introduced for the registration of participants in a visa pre-application process (ballot) for the Subclass 462 visa. This charge is intended to ensure that only genuine applicants participate in the ballot, reducing the risk of disingenuous registrations that could undermine the process's integrity.

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Australia needs a National Migration Institute to address widespread misinformation about migration, which is threatening democracy and social cohesion, according to ANU expert Professor Alan Gamlen. The call for a National Migration Institute aims to provide clear, factual information on migration, counteracting myths and fear-driven narratives. The institute would focus on researching and educating the public about migration's true impact on Australia’s economy, society, and international relations.

Migration Alliance fully supports this initiative. Our founder, Liana Allan, also recommends establishing this institute as an essential step forward for the country. We must all get behind this effort to ensure that migration policies are informed by facts, not fear.

Read more: Australia-needs-a-National-Migration-Institute---ANU-expert.pdf.

The Attorney-General, Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP, has announced several key appointments to both the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) and the newly established Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), which will commence operations on 14 October 2024.

Mr. Michael Hawkins AM has been appointed as the inaugural Chief Executive Officer and Principal Registrar of the ART. Currently serving as the Registrar of the AAT, Mr. Hawkins brings a wealth of experience and leadership to his new role, having also served as a part-time AAT Member from 2016 to 2022.

In addition to Mr. Hawkins' appointment, 17 members have been appointed to the AAT, including one Senior Member and 16 Members, who will transition to the ART upon its commencement. Furthermore, 20 members have been appointed to the ART, consisting of 7 Senior Members and 13 General Members. All appointments were made following a transparent and merit-based selection process.

The "Migration Amendment (Visa Application Charge Refund) Regulations 2024" introduces amendments to the Migration Regulations 1994.

The primary objective is to provide a partial refund of the Visa Application Charge (VAC) for Student (Subclass 500) and Student Guardian (Subclass 590) visa applicants from specified Pacific countries and Timor-Leste. This refund offsets the increase in VAC that took effect from 1 July 2024.

The partial refund applies to the difference between the VAC amounts payable before and after the new regulations were implemented. The aim is to support educational opportunities for students from these regions, thereby strengthening Australia's ties with Pacific nations and contributing to regional stability and development. The regulations are designed to ensure fairness and avoid creating barriers for prospective students from these areas. The changes are set to commence the day after registration on the Federal Register of Legislation.