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(Overseas Organ Transplant Disclosure and Other Measures) – bill amendments

With the help of this Bill, the Commonwealth of Australia will be better informed about people entering the country who have undergone organ transplants. The Bill mandates the addition of questions on organ transplants to the incoming passenger card for travelers entering Australia. The Commonwealth’s capacity to gather accurate information about organ transplants on visitors to Australia will be enhanced by this Bill.

This Bill will further broaden the character test, allowing the Minister to decide whether to refuse or revoke a person’s visa if the Minister has a good faith suspicion that the individual has been involved in a human organ trafficking offence. Regardless of whether there has been a conviction or a sentence imposed, a person who objectively fails the character test may be given consideration for a visa rejection or cancellation on character grounds. The definition of character concern in section 5C of the Migration Act is also consequentially changed by the Bill.

Increasing financial support for visa holders experiencing violence

For temporary visa holders who are leaving a violent relationship, the Albanese Labour Government is reducing their financial insecurity.

The amount of money the government will provide to temporary visa holders who are victims of family or domestic violence will increase from the current $3000 to $5000.

The increase, which is anticipated to help up to 2000 people nationwide, has received a commitment from the government of $4.4 million spread over two years.

The cash is in addition to the $38.2 million pledged to prolong the Escaping Violence Payment trial and the Temporary Visa Holders Experiencing Violence Pilot through January 31, 2025.

The increase harmonises the financial aid provided to those with temporary visas with that received by Australian citizens as part of the trial Escaping Violence Payment.

The Temporary Visa Holders Experiencing Violence Pilot programme began in April 2021 and offers qualifying temporary visa holders who are victims of family and domestic violence access to legal counsel about immigration and family law as well as financial aid packages for goods and services.

With more than 2900 applications received, more than $8 million in financial aid has been given since the Pilot’s start.

“People on temporary visas can experience very specific challenges and vulnerabilities, including significant barriers when seeking support due to language, limited access to information, fear of deportation, and lack of familiarity with the local legal and support systems,” said Ms Mau.

“Addressing their immediate needs and ensuring their safety and wellbeing will require increased financial support,”

The Australian Red Cross website has more details about the Pilot.

If you or someone you know is impacted by family, domestic or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT 24 hours, seven days a week on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT website.

If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit the No to Violence website.

Tasmanian Skilled Migration State Nomination Program Update – 5 July 2023

Application Gateway expected to be available by 4pm on Friday 7th July 2023

2023-24 Tasmanian Skilled Migration State Nomination Program.

Registrations of Interest and nomination applications cannot currently be submitted through the Migration Tasmania Application Gateway because it is undergoing maintenance and modifications. On Friday, July 7, 2023, at 4 p.m., it should be back online.

The Skilled Migration State Nomination Program’s new features for 2023–24

Programme adjustments for 2023–24 have been kept to a minimum. For ROIs and applications submitted starting on July 3, 2023, new minimum eligibility standards and priority attributes will be in effect. Candidates may want to withdraw their current ROI and submit a new one once the Gateway is accessible in circumstances where the new requirements are likely to be advantageous.

The changes are:

• extending the Tasmanian Skilled Employment pathway to all professions, expanding eligibility for subclass 190 nomination
• Tasmanian Onshore Skilled Occupation List, updated
• Requirements for massage therapists are changing.
• Income threshold adjustments based on revisions to the median and average salaries in Australia as well as the income threshold for temporary skilled migration
• Modest modifications to priority attributes
• The Additional Information, Exclusions and Definitions section of the Migration Tasmania website contains more comprehensive policy guidance.

The service fee to apply for nomination has increased to $330 (including GST). There is no charge to submit a Registration of Interest

Applications submitted prior to July 1, 2023

Applications for nomination that have been submitted but not decided upon before to 1 July 2023 will still be handled in accordance with the standards in effect at the time of submission. After the Australian Government releases nomination allocations for the 2023–24 programme year, they will be nominated in SkillSelect if authorised.

Registrations of Interest Submitted Before July 1, 2023

Prior to July 1, 2023, submitted Registrations of Interest (ROIs) will be valid for the 2023–24 programme year.

The conditions and parameters that were in effect at the time of the ROI submission will apply if you are requested to submit for nomination.

Applications submitted after July 1, 2023

The allocation of nominations for the programme year 2023–2024 has not yet been verified by the Australian government. After the allocations for the 2023–24 programme year are determined, successful applications for Tasmanian nomination submitted after July 1, 2023, will be nominated in SkillSelect.

Immigration detention lawful but lacked humanity, judge rule

Although a Kurdish-Iranian man’s hotel detention was found to be legal, a Federal Court judge harshly chastised the man’s prolonged detention for lacking “thought, care, and humanity.”

Mostafa Azimitabar, 37, sued the government for his 14-month confinement at two Melbourne hotels in 2019 and 2020, but Justice Michael Murphy ruled in the government’s favour.

Justice Murphy stated in his reasons on Thursday morning, July 6, that his decision should not be “understood as my approving the immigration detention and what the applicant was required to endure”.

In keeping a person with major psychiatric and psychological issues in the motels for 14 months, he stated, “I can only wonder at the lack of thought, indeed lack of care and humanity.”

The issue in this case, however, is whether the minister had the authority under the Act to approve the hotels as locations for immigration detention and, as a result, to keep the applicant in the manner in which he was.

“I consider the minister had (and has) the power to do so.”

“As a matter of ordinary human decency, the applicant should not have been detained for such a period in those conditions, particularly when he was suffering from PTSD and a major depressive episode.”