August at Nomos
The last month of an uncommonly cold winter was jam-packed! Here are a few of the highlights:
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- The month began with some very positive news when it was learned that the Murugappan family were finally granted permanent visas in Australia after four years in immigration detention. The saga began in 2018 when Priya Nadaraja’s visa expired and both her and her husband’s claims for refugee status was denied by the Australian Government, after which they and their two daughters entered immigration detention with a view to being deported. In what can only be viewed as a heartfelt effort, the community banded together around the Tamil family to campaign against their deportation, a vision which was finally realised on 5th August when the Department of Home Affairs visited their Biloela home and informed them that they had been granted permanent visas. Though this family faced years of stress and confusion while in immigration detention, the eventual positive result is something worth celebrating. For the full story, click here.
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- Minister Andrew Giles MP has discussed the Government’s plans for a more effective migration programme in Australia. Looking at COVID-19 as a ‘great reset’ of sorts, as so many industries have done, the Minister said that Australia is being presented with an opportunity to “restart” its migration programme for the first time in more than 70 years (since shortly after the end of World War II). Time will tell as to exactly what changes the Government plan to visit upon the migration programme.
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- In the last few days, there has been a lot of discussion about the upcoming Jobs and Skills Summit which aims to bring together Australian communities, unions, employers, civil society and governments to address the shared economic challenges currently being faced. Led by the Prime Minister and Treasurer with the support of other key ministers, the Summit will focus on key issues including keeping unemployment low, boosting productivity, expanding employment opportunities, addressing skills shortages and improving the current migration settings so as to support higher productivity and wages. The Summit is likely to have a direct impact on how the Government shapes the immigration programme, in line with Minister Giles’ comments above. We are hoping to see a robust discussion on how migration can and should benefit the Australian economy, as well as workers and their families. The published agenda for the Summit can be found here.
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- A heads up to anyone who has submitted an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect: an unscheduled round of sc189 invitations has recently taken place. This is in line with the Department’s stated commitment to clearing the visa backlog, with a focus on skilled migrants. If you have been invited to apply for a visa but have realised that some of your documentation has expired or are worried that you no longer meet the requirements to apply for a visa, get in touch as soon as possible.
That’s the Nomos wrap-up for August. See you next month!
*This is general information only, as at the date of publication, and should not be interpreted as legal advice. For an accurate and current assessment of your circumstances and visa options, please contact us to receive this advice.
