Bill introduced to provide access to welfare payments or government services to new skilled Regional visa holders of subclass 491 and subclass 494 as if they are holders of permanent Bill introduced to provide access to welfare payments or government services to new skilled Regional visa holders of subclass 491 and subclass 494 as if they are holders of permanent visas. Two new regional visas are being introduced to encourage new skilled migrants to settle in regional areas The New Skilled Regional Visas (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2019 (the Bill) makes consequential amendments to legislation administered by the Department of Social Services, the Department of Education and the Attorney-General’s Department, to give effect to Government policy that holders of provisional skilled regional visas, which come into effect on 16 November 2019, to have access to welfare payments or government services as if they are holders of permanent visas. The following legislation would be amended by the Bill: A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999 Disability Services Act 1986 Fair Entitlements Guarantee Act 2012 Higher Education Support Act 2003 National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 Paid Parental Leave Act 2010 Social Security Act 1991 This Bill supports the Australian Government’s initiatives in managing Australia’s immigration program and supporting regional Australia. As part of the Population Package announced in the 2019-20 Budget, two new regional visas are being introduced to encourage new skilled migrants to settle in regional areas. The new visas will come into effect on 16 November 2019 and will require holders to live and work in a regional area for at least three years before they are eligible for a permanent visa. The amendments in this Bill give effect to the policy intent that holders of these provisional skilled regional visas have the same access to welfare payments and government services as permanent visa holders. This recognises that the visas provide a pathway to permanent residence. These arrangements also ensure that provisional skilled regional visa holders are not disadvantaged compared to holders of permanent skilled visas available for people to work in metropolitan areas. The new provisional skilled regional visas are set out in the Migration Amendment (New Skilled Regional Visas) Regulations 2019 (the visa regulations), which amend the Migration Regulations 1994 to provide for the following visas: Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)) visa; Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional)) visa. The visa regulations also amend the Migration Regulations 1994 to provide for a new permanent skilled regional visa, namely the Subclass 191 (Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional)) visa.

All applications for Tasmanian state nominations are free of charge. Subclass 489 – Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa can be achieved. The application for Tasmanian Government nomination must be completed online through the Migration Tasmania website. The assessment of the application for state nomination will be based solely on the supporting documents provided at the time of application. If the application is incomplete, or it does not meet the nomination criteria, the application will be refused.

The Department of Home Affairs has announced the transitional arrangements for the new Skilled Work Regional visa (491). The current information Home Affairs has supplied is that: 10 th  September 2019 is the last day for States and Territory Governments to nominate and for invitations to be issued to applicants for the subclass 489 visa. 15 th  of November 2019 is the last day for applicants who have been invited to apply for a subclass 489 visa to lodge a subclass 489 visa application. 16 th  November 2019 is the first day that intending applicants can lodge an EOI for the new subclass 491 visa. State and territory governments can nominate and invitations are able to be issued for the 491 visa from this date.

Backpackers from 13 countries are being encouraged to explore regional businesses to work and study at the same time. The Australian Government wants to fill the vacancy for labour shortages in regional areas particularly on farms. Minister for Home Affairs said that working holiday-makers travel further into regional areas than most other international workers. The Minister countered suggestions that the work and holiday visa is becoming a channel for low-skill migrant workers. The applicants applying for this visa must meet minimum requirement before a visa can be granted, including functional level of English and they must hold or be studying towards tertiary qualifications”. The Farmers’ Federation though welcomed the idea are lobbying for an agricultural visa and the Prime Minister has not ruled out on this visa. Countries being targeted in expansion for the work and holiday visa are: India , Brazil , Mexico , Philippines , Switzerland , Fiji , Solomon Islands , Croatia , Latvia , Lithuania , Andorra , Monaco , Mongolia

The Instrument Migration (LIN 19/199: Arrangements for Visitor (Class FA) Visa Applications) Instrument 2019 specifies the process for application as a Visitor (class FA) visa in relation to a specified form. The application can now be made by internet or by paper form for applicants onshore or offshore. The changes introduced are for Tourist stream, Sponsored Family stream, Business Visitor stream and Approved Destination Status stream. The Item 18/118 was repealed on 20/08/2019 and is no longer in force. https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2019L01088

Priya and Nadesalingam came to Australia separately by boat in 2012 and 2013, following Sri Lanka’s civil war. They settled in Biloela for four years on a temporary bridging visa, which ran out in March 2018. The High Court denied their bid to stay in May until an intervention was requested. There were two notices sent to the family stating they will be removed from Australia on Thursday 29 August and will be sent to Colombo. The family fears persecution due to past family links to liberation tigers. Lawyers secured an interim injunction in the Federal Circuit Court in Melbourne on Thursday blocking the family’s removal. A hearing is listed for 10am on Friday at the Federal Circuit Court.

Australian Border Force (ABF) is very strict and passengers have to undergo tight scrutiny when they arrive. A 62-year-old Japanese woman arriving at Sydney airport went through a baggage search on 26 th August and was found to be carrying methamphetamine a fine crystalline substance in ring binders. If found guilty by the court she can face maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Visa applicants need to ensure that their application is processed by a registered migration agent. There are many visa scams being used to take advantage of people wanting to travel to Australia. Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs, Jason Wood, said visa applicants need to be aware of visa scams and fraudulent operators. “To avoid being scammed, you can check the Register of Migration Agents, published on the OMARA website.” “There are Australian registered migration agents working all around the world in countries such as India, the United Kingdom, China and New Zealand, just to name a few.” “These agents are subject to the same Code of Conduct, professional development and regulations as registered migration agents based in Australia.”

Regional Australian businesses will soon have access to more workers, thanks to an increase in the number of Work and Holiday visa places available to young people from Vietnam. From 2 nd September, the number of places available to Vietnam will increase from 200 to 1,500, meaning more people who can holiday, study and work in Australia, particularly in regional areas. Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs David Coleman, said the increase would maximise the benefits for both nations of the already successful program. “Demand for the Work and Holiday visas from Vietnamese nationals has been strong since the agreement began in 2017, with all 200 places allocated in the past two program years,” Mr Coleman said. Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Simon Birmingham said the increase would encourage more Vietnamese nationals to choose Australia for a working holiday. “We’ve seen Vietnamese visitor numbers to Australia grow by 10 per cent over the past year, and this is an opportunity to continue to capitalise on this emerging tourism market,” Minister Birmingham said. The Work and Holiday visa requires first-time Vietnamese applicants to hold or be studying towards tertiary qualifications and to speak a functional level of English.

The next round of invitation will be held on 2nd September. In the 15th August round 152 invitations were issued with a score of 130 to 70 points. Additional applications submitted before 29th June 2019 with a score of 65 points were also accepted.