Leaving and returning to Australia
Fully vaccinated Australians will soon be eligible for international travel without first seeking an exemption.The government has announced that Australian citizens or permanent residents aged 12 and over who have received two doses of a recognised vaccine will be able to travel without needing an exemption. This could start sometime in November but there will be…
New Agricultural Worker Visa is now available
The new Australian Agricultural Worker visa is now open for applications as a new stream in the subclass 403 (Temporary Work (International Relations) visa. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) will manage the AAWP and will negotiate bilateral agreements with foreign governments for the program. Only visa applicants from countries that are a…
Australia is opening up again
It is expected that fully vaccinated Australians will be able to leave the country without exemption from Monday 1 November 2021, in a move that lifts major travel restrictions for the first time in 18 months. In addition, it was announced late last week that parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents are eligible to…
Federal Government’s 2020/2021 Budget and Migration Planning
Last night’s release of the 20/21 Federal Budget provided new announcements and information related to the Australian Migration Program for this financial year. Rachael Adolphe and Anke Nagel from our Migration Team have dissected the content to bring you these highlights: Overall Planning Levels The government will maintain the planning level for 160,000 places this…
The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
On 1 September 2021, the Family Court and the Federal Circuit Court of Australia merged to become the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCoA). The media release from the harmonised Court indicates the aim is to establish a consistent national case management system that is efficient, fair, and focuses on the safety of…
Ward Keller’s submission to the Minister for the Environment on Proposed Declaration to Prohibit Subsea Mining
Ward Keller has made a submission to the Minister for the Environment, the Hon. Eva Lawler MLA, on the Proposed Declaration to Prohibit Subsea Mining. You can read the full submissions here.
Upcoming changes to the Working Holiday Maker Visa Programs
The Hon Alex Hawke MP announced yesterday of upcoming changes to the Working Holiday Maker programs to support tourism and hospitality sectors. The changes will include: From 1 July 2021, Working Holiday Makers who were unable to come to Australia or had to leave early because of COVID-19 will be able to apply for a…
Additional occupations for the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) announced
On 22 June 2021, the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Alex Hawke MP announced the inclusion of a further 22 occupations on the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL). This brings the total now to 41 occupations. The PMSOL is a list of critical occupations necessary for the ongoing recovery of…
Minute to Win It 2021
Well done to Associate Alecia Howland in delivering a riveting performance at the Palmerston Regional Business Association’s ‘Minute to Win it’! You can watch her excellent work here:
Changes to the subclass 457 visa – what does it mean for me?
There has been a lot of anxiety over yesterday’s announcement on subclass 457 visas being abolished. We have been closely following the developments and the proposed changes. Here’s a summary of what you should know: Currently hold a subclass 457 visa and planning to apply for permanent residency? Your visa will continue to be in…