The Department of Home Affairs has introduced important amendments to Australia’s humanitarian visa pathway under the Community Support Program and Australia’s passport refusal and cancellation frameworks to address state-sponsored terrorism offences.
State-Sponsored Terrorism – New Passport Provisions
The Australian Passports Amendment (State Sponsors of Terrorism) Determination 2026 amends the Australian Passports Determination 2015 to bring newly created state-sponsored terrorism offences under Part 5.3A, Divisions 111-113 of the Criminal Code are included within the existing passport refusal and cancellation frameworks. The instrument took effect from 13 June 2026.
Click here: Australian Passports Amendment (State Sponsors of Terrorism) Determination 2026
Community Support Program – Key Amendments
The Migration Amendment (Realigning the Community Support Program) Regulations 2026 introduce a series of amendments to the Migration Regulations governing Subclass 202 (Global Special Humanitarian) visa applications lodged with a proposal from an Approved Proposing Organisation (APO). The key changes are as follows:
- A new Schedule 1 criterion caps the number of persons an APO may propose within a financial year, with any applications exceeding this limit deemed invalid at the time of lodgement
- The Minister is empowered to set the maximum annual proposal cap by legislative instrument
- Applicants proposed by one APO at the time of lodgement may transfer to another APO prior to a decision being made on their application, safeguarding applicants against circumstances outside their control such as an APO ceasing to operate
- The regulations clarify that an applicant’s permanent settlement in Australia must be consistent with Commonwealth priorities, with the Minister authorised to set out the assessment criteria by legislative instrument
The regulations take effect from 1 July 2026 and apply to applications lodged on or after that date. However, the APO transfer provision operates retrospectively, extending to applications lodged but not finally determined prior to 1 July 2026.
Click here: Migration Amendment (Realigning the Community Support Program) Regulations 2026
