Australia Takes on Migration Again Highlights of 2021- 2022 Federal Budget Review

Whether it can be treated in the midst of COVID-19 recovery or post-COVID-19 recovery, Australia’s 2021- 2022 Federal budget Review includes a range of economic and social outcomes touching on the migration program in order to address skill shortages in the labour market and attract overseas businesses. The previous Federal Budget in October 2020, the fiscal measures to manage the workforce and to encourage spending, as well as the successful health management of COVID-19, have all contributed to our current strong position. This synopsis aims to highlight the latest government plans to boost various sectors connected to, or affected by, the migration program. 

Highlight 1 – Migration Program Ceiling

• The Ceiling will be maintained at 160,000 places. This includes 79,600 Skill and 77,300 Family stream places.

Highlight 2 – Incentives to Hospitality and Tourism sector

• The Government will increase flexibility for student visa holders to work beyond the current 40 hours per fortnight limit in the hospitality and tourism sectors. 

Highlight 3 – Incentives for Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visas

• The Government will extend the validity period for Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visas by 18 months for individuals who are unable to use their visas due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. 

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Highlight 4 – Migrant Worker Protection

• The Government will strengthen migrant worker protection in response to recommendations of the Report of the Migrant Workers’ Taskforce.

Highlight 5- Enhancing Migration Litigation Merits Review

• The Government will enhance migration litigation and merits review by funding additional finalizations in the Migration and Refugee Division of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and providing an additional judge in the Federal Circuit Court in 2021-2022, and a second judge in 2022-2023.

Highlight 6- Australia’s Humanitarian Program 

• The Humanitarian Program for resettlement will have 13,750 places in 2021-2022 to maintain Australia’s long-term commitment to humanitarian resettlement.

Having considered the above, and as general guidelines only, we make the following observations about Parent visas—

• Parent Visas

Based on the Government’s announcement, Australia’s international border is likely to be closed until sometime in the middle of 2022. Considering the estimate provided for processing new eligible Contributory Parent visa applications (i.e. approximately 58 months), we recommend that such application be lodged now. You may contact us to see if you are eligible to apply for this visa category. When the border opens, you may then apply for a temporary 3 or 5-year temporary parent visa to remain onshore while the other application is processing.

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Source excluding the Parent visas observations: Funding a safer Australia to secure our future – Department of Home Affairs 

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