September at Nomos
Though many of us are still in lockdown, at long last there is the alluring light of freedom on the horizon. Here’s a snapshot of September at Nomos:
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- There have been a number of interesting changes and exciting announcements in the Australian immigration space over the course of September. These include a more flexible, streamlined pathway to citizenship for especially talented prospective Australians (e.g. sportspeople, artists, actors etc.) who otherwise might fail the residence requirements due to the frequent travel demanded by their professions,. the NSW Treasurer’s announcement that certain fully vaccinated international students are expected to be allowed to return to NSW by the end of 2021 and the commencement of a new Australian Agriculture Worker stream visa, to provide for the entry and temporary stay of workers in primary industry sectors in Australia. It also looks like the reopening of our international borders is finally on the horizon. All indications are that our migration program will start returning to normal very shortly, so if you are looking for advice for yourself, your family or your staff or colleagues, please contact us now so that we can start planning with you.
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- Our nearest neighbour New Zealand announced changes to their immigration program designed to provide a one-off simplified pathway to residence by way of the 2021 Resident Visa to assist the 165,000 migrants currently in NZ. The new visa is a direct response to the disruption caused by COVID-19 intended to help both migrant families and businesses impacted by the pandemic and border closures. The changes have been implemented to provide migrants and the people who depend on them in their respective communities some level of certainty regarding their future in New Zealand. If this new visa may be applicable to you or someone you know, please please contact us for assistance.
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- The FY2021 National Pro Bono Target report was released, revealing some very encouraging statistics including the fact that the Australian legal profession reported a record-breaking 641,966 hours of pro bono legal work in the 2021 financial year. Compared to previous years, this is a 16% increase from the 2020 financial year and a 36% increase from the 2019 financial year. For the 2021 financial year, target signatories (which includes our Director Kathryn Viegas) reported the highest average hours per lawyer since 2011, reporting an average of 39.7 pro bono hours per lawyer (exceeding the target of 35 hours per lawyer). In addition, the number of target signatories increased in the 2021 financial year from 187 to 270 signatories. It is very promising to know that even in the ongoing shadow of Covid-19, the legal industry can still be a generous and giving profession to those most in need of legal support.
That’s the Nomos wrap-up for September. 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.
