The idea of a health waiver scheme was introduced by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship to allow for a waiver of the health provisions to apply to the following onshore Australian visas:

Subclass 846 State/Territory Sponsored Regional Established Business in Australia

• Subclass 855 Labour Agreement
• Subclass 856 Employer Nomination Scheme
• Subclass 857 Regional Sponsored

Consultation between the Federal Government and States and Territories is now complete and it has been announced that the following States and Territories will be participating in the scheme:

• Australian Capital Territory
• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• Queensland
• Tasmania
• Victoria
• Western Australia

The aforementioned States and Territories will commence participation in the health waiver scheme on 22 September 2010 allowing applicants for the subclass 846, subclass 855, subclass 856 and subclass 857 visas to apply for a health waiver from this date in the relevant circumstances.

This is general information only and does not constitute legal advice.

Disclaimer:

The information on this website is intended only to provide a summary and general overview on relevant matters. It is not intended to be comprehensive nor does it constitute legal advice. You are advised to seek legal or other professional advice before acting or relying on any of the content contained in this website.

In order to be eligible for the subclass 476 Skilled Recognised Graduate visa it is necessary that the visa applicant has completed a degree of higher qualification in a specified area at a specified educational institution 24 months prior to lodging their visa application.

Commencing on 30 October 2010, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship will add the Engineering faculties of the following places to the list of requisite educational institutions:

• Ecole de Technologie (Canada)
• Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile (Chile)
• University of Nottingham Malaysia Camous (Malaysia)
• University of Liverpool (UK)

There are currently 107 institutions across the world on the list for the subclass 476 Skilled Recognised Graduate visa.

This is general information only and does not constitute legal advice.

Disclaimer:

The information on this website is intended only to provide a summary and general overview on relevant matters. It is not intended to be comprehensive nor does it constitute legal advice. You are advised to seek legal or other professional advice before acting or relying on any of the content contained in this website.

Following an expected reshuffle of governmental ministries and ministers in the wake of the 21 August 2010 federal election, The Hon Chris Bowen MP has now been appointed Minister for Immigration and Citizenship replacing Senator Chris Evans.

The Hon Chris Bowen MP previously acted as the Minister for Financial Services, Superannuation and Corporate Law and also the Minister for Human Services in the former government.

Senator Chris Evans has been shifted to the recently created Ministry of Jobs, Skills and Workplace Relations.

We are yet to see whether the appointment of The Hon Chris Bowen MP’s appointment as Minister will alter the face of the Ministry of Immigration and Citizenship.

This is general information only and does not constitute legal advice.

Disclaimer:

The information on this website is intended only to provide a summary and general overview on relevant matters. It is not intended to be comprehensive nor does it constitute legal advice. You are advised to seek legal or other professional advice before acting or relying on any of the content contained in this website.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has managed to form a minority federal government following the 21 August 2010 election in which both major parties, the Australian Labor Party, and the Coalition, were unable to obtain the required 76 seats in the House of Representatives to form a government.

Independent Members of Parliament, Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott, decided to support the Labor government following lengthy negotiations with both major parties and Labor’s pledge to spend $10 million on regional projects. Elected Greens MP, Adam Brandt, determined to support a Labor government soon after the elections.

It is thought that the independent MPs will hold a significant amount of power given that they may hold the balance of power in deciding controversial legislative or policy changes. In regards to immigration, it is believed that the independent MPs may push for higher levels of immigration to regional areas to increase regional populations and fill skills shortages in regional areas.

This is general information only and does not constitute legal advice.

Disclaimer:

The information on this website is intended only to provide a summary and general overview on relevant matters. It is not intended to be comprehensive nor does it constitute legal advice. You are advised to seek legal or other professional advice before acting or relying on any of the content contained in this website.