Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Amendment (Rates of Charge) Commencement Proclamation 2020 dated 06 August 2020 [“the Instrument”] fixes 15 October 2020 as the day on which Schedule 1 to the Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Amendment (Rates of Charge) Act 2020 commences. Charge) Act 2020 requires a Registered Migration Agent who has paid the non-commercial registration fee to pay commercial registration fee from the time they provide commercial immigration advice. Accordingly, these provisions will be in effect from 15 October 2020. Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Amendment (Rates of Charge) Act 2020 also amends provisions regarding for payment of adjusted charge for providing non-commercial immigration assistance. To access the full Instrument, click here.
Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Amendment (Rates of Charge) Regulations 2020 dated 06 August 2020 [“the Instrument”] amends the Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Regulations 1998 to reflect the changes made by the Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Amendment (Rates of Charge) Act 2020 (Cth). Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Amendment (Rates of Charge) Act 2020 (Cth) amends the Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Act 1997 (Cth) for payment of adjusted charge for providing non-commercial immigration assistance. Accordingly, the Instrument amends provisions relating to general charge and non‑commercial application charge, and charge on basis of status of migration agent including working out amount of charge. The Instruments also inserts new provisions incorporating amendments made by the Migration Agents Registration Application Charge Amendment (Rates of Charge) Regulations 2020. To access the full Instrument, click here.
Migration Agents Amendment (Regulation of Migration Agents) Regulations 2020 dated 06 August 2020 [“the Instrument”] amends the Migration Agents Regulations 1998 to reflect the changes made by the Migration Amendment (Regulation of Migration Agents) Act 2020 (Cth). Migration Amendment (Regulation of Migration Agents) Act 2020 (Cth) amends the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) and contains provisions regarding the Australian legal practitioners providing immigration assistance in Schedule 1, including transitional arrangements, registration periods in Schedule 2, redundant provisions in Schedule 3, requirement for applicants to provide further information in Schedule 4, fees and charges in Schedule 5, and other amendment in Schedule 6. Accordingly, the Instrument amends provisions relating to Australian legal practitioners providing immigration assistance and registration requirements, outlines the redundant provisions, and provides transitional provisions regarding operation of amendments relating to registration of migration agents. The Instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 07 Aug 2020 and as per Section 2, various provisions are in effect from 8 August 2020 and 11 August 2020, accordingly. To access the full Instrument, click here.
Migration Amendment (Regulation of Migration Agents) (Schedules 3, 4 and 6) Commencement Proclamation 2020 dated 06 August 2020 [“the Instrument”] fixes 11 August 2020 as the day on which Schedules 3, 4 and 6 to the Migration Amendment (Regulation of Migration Agents) Act 2020 commences. Schedules 3, 4 and 6 to the Migration Amendment (Regulation of Migration Agents) Act 2020 outline redundant provisions, requirements for applicants to provide further information, and other amendments to the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) regarding immigration assistance. Accordingly, these provisions are in effect now. Migration Amendment (Regulation of Migration Agents) Act 2020 also amends provisions regarding the Australian legal practitioners providing immigration assistance in Schedule 1, including transitional arrangements, registration periods in Schedule 2, and fees and charges in Schedule 5. To access the full Instrument, click here.
In response to the changes to Victoria’s restriction levels to control the spread of COVID-19, as announced by the State Premier on 02 August 2020, from 11:59pm on Wednesday 05 August employers requiring their staff to attend a work site in Melbourne have to issue a worker permit to their employees under the ‘Permitted Worker Scheme’. Further, a dedicated ‘Industry Coordination Centre’ has been set up within the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions to support businesses and determine if businesses can safely operate under the Stage 4 restrictions. To know more about the ‘Permitted Worker Scheme’ and eligibility, click here. To discuss if your business is COVID-SAFE for operation, call Business Victoria on 13 22 15.
On 05 August 2020, the Victorian Government has announced further support, in addition to previous financial assistance and a range of other government assistances, for temporary and provisional visa holders in the State. The Government has offered the ‘Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment’, announced by the Commonwealth Government, for Victorians who have no source of income because of self-isolation or quarantine due to COVID-19. The State also offers support for wearing face masks and coverings, including distribution of 2.1 million reusable face masks to vulnerable Victorians and agencies delivering services in the fight against COVID-19. This is in addition to previously announced financial assistance and other assistances including support for job seekers and renters, setting up AUD $45 million International Student Emergency Relief Fund for international students facing financial hardship during the crisis, relaxation of work hours, relief payments for temporary visa holders, support for multi-cultural and multi-faith families, and public housing support.
The Migration & Refugee Division at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) has released an online form for requesting an expedited decision for reviews of migration matters. An expedited decision may be made in favour of the review applicant, without conducting a hearing, when the AAT is objectively satisfied of the new evidence submitted on the relevant issues in dispute. To request an expedited decision, the following requirements must be met: The applicant applies for review of a visa refusal decision; and Refusal of visa was on grounds of one or more visa criteria not being met; and New documentary evidence to be submitted demonstrates the criterion or criteria are now being met. Requesting an expedited decision is not available for review of a decision about nomination or sponsorship of an activity, occupation, position or person; or if the criterion requires a subjective assessment of any matter, including determining the requirement of a genuine relationship for a partner visa or determining the requirement of a genuine temporary entrant for a student visa. To request an expedited decision at the AAT, click here.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), March 2020 quarter witnessed greater impact on tourism jobs than other jobs in the economy due to the impact of bushfires and COVID-19 as tourism activities tend to be labour intensive. Head of ABS Tourism Statistics, Amanda Clark, said, “The number of filled jobs in the tourism industry fell 3.0% between March 2019 and March 2020, while economy wide filled jobs grew by 1.7%… While many areas of tourism activity were adversely affected, filled jobs in Accommodation services fell the most decreasing 11,600 jobs between March 2019 and March 2020.” In this period, tourism jobs in Australia decreased by 21,900 (3%) compared to an increase of 243,900 (1.7%) in the overall economy.
04 August 2020, in a joint media release with Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, the Hon David Littleproud MP, the Hon Michaelia Cash and Dr Sam McMahon, have announced that the Commonwealth and the Northern Territory Governments ‘agreed to conduct a trial aimed at addressing the labour shortages affecting NT farmers’. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on agriculture due to labour shortage in the Northern Territory, which relies heavily on seasonal workers and Working Holiday Makers for food growing, especially mango growing, the Governments have agreed on a targeted trial to meet the labour needs. As per the announcement, initially the programme will be open to Vanuatu citizens only, with possibility of adding more countries later. The Northern Territory Farmer’s Association has forecasted a shortage of 800 to 1,000 workers from August onwards. Minister Littleproud said, “This trial will see up to 170 workers under the Seasonal Worker Programme come to Australia to help with the 2020 harvest, with more workers to potentially follow subject to a review of the first cohort and approval for additional numbers by the NT Government.” Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, the Hon Alan Tudge MP said, “With appropriate quarantine arrangements in place, seasonal and Pacific workers can continue to safely support Australian farmers facing critical workforce shortages…of course, farmers can only employ people under the Seasonal Worker Programme and Pacific Labour Scheme if they can demonstrate that no Australian is available to do the work.”
According to sources, Australia’s net overseas migration has fallen from 232,000 in 2018-19 to 154,000 in 2019-20. Further, Australia is set to experience a dramatic drop in migration in the year 2020-21 where the net number of migrants is expected to be 31,000. Merrick Peisley, Principal Advisor at the Centre for Population said, “With net overseas migration expected to fall, regions that rely on overseas migration for population growth will likely be hardest hit.” He also said, “Australia’s population growth is set to be the lowest in over 100 years due to COVID-19.” Certain regions in Australia that rely heavily on migration to drive population growth or regions like Western Australia’s wheat belt area are among the adversely affected areas, hit the most by the border control measures adopted in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.