06/10/2020
Federal Budget 2020-21
The 2020-21 Federal Budget contains the following announcements related to Migration.
1. The Budget papers predict net overseas migration will be -71,200 less than the 154,000 persons in 2019-20, but is expected to gradually increase to around 201,000 in 2023-24.
2. Migration Program levels
The current Migration Program Planning level will remain at
160,000 for the 2020-21 program year, however, the distribution of
places will change with an increase from 47,732 to 77,300 for
Family stream places for this program year only.
3. Employer Sponsored, Global Talent, Business Innovation and Investment Program visas will be prioritised within the Skilled Stream.
4. Onshore visa applicants and Partner visa applicants where the relevant sponsor resides in a designated regional area, will be prioritised for the 2020-21 Migration Program.
5. Visa refunds and waivers
Prospective marriage visa (PMV) holders will be able to access a VAC refund (this is in line with information that the Department is not extending the entry date for PMV holders and moving to cancel the visas of those offshore)
6. Temporary skilled workers and visitor visa holders will be eligible to have the VAC for a subsequent visa application waived, to allow them to return to Australia once travel restrictions are lifted.
7. Working holiday makers will be eligible to have the VAC for a subsequent visa application waived, to allow them to return to Australia once travel restrictions are lifted or otherwise be able to access a VAC refund.
8. VAC refunds and waivers will be available to current visa holders who are unable to travel until the border reopens.
9. Permanent migration
New Zealand Pathway to permanent residency - the income eligibility requirement for the New Zealand stream of the Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa. Eligibility for the Pathway will be extended to Special Category (subclass 444) visa holders who have a taxable income at or above the Temporary Skilled Migrant Income Threshold for at least three of the last five income years, including the most recent year.
10. Business, Investment and Innovation Program
The Government will introduce changes to improve the quality of investments and applicants.
The program will focus on higher value investors, business owners and entrepreneurs and improve the economic outcomes of the BIIP.
11. Family stream program and visas
Partner visas - the mandatory family sponsorship provisions for Partner visas will be implemented, requiring character checks and sharing of personal information with the applicant, and enforceable sponsorship obligations. 72,300 of the 77,300 places in the family stream will be allocated to partner applicants.
12. English language requirements will be introduced for Partner visa applicants AND the sponsor, to enhance social cohesion and economic participation outcomes.
13. Humanitarian stream
Humanitarian Program ceiling will be set at 13,750 places, with a flexible mix of places between offshore and onshore categories in response to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
14. The Immigration Assessment Authority will receive funding of $7.6 million to enable continued review fast track reviewable decisions for those who entered Australia as an unauthorised maritime arrival on or after 13 August 2012 but before 1 January 2014.
15. Christmas Island reactivation – the government will provide $55.6 million dollars at North West Point on Christmas Island to accommodate unlawful non-citizens including those released from prisons, but unable to be deported due to COVID-19 international border restrictions.
Community Sponsorship Program – this program will be reformed, but no further details provided.
16. Social Cohesion
Social cohesion funding of $62.8 million over five years from 2019-20 will be provided for initiatives including the promotion Australian values, identity and social cohesion, and counter malign information online; enhance engagement with multicultural communities; and to establish a research program to inform initiatives to strengthen social cohesion.
17. Federal Law Circuit Court
Funding of $35.7 million over four years from 2020-21 will be provided to the Federal Circuit Court (FCC) for additional resources and judges will be provided to expedite the resolution of migration matters.
18. An increase in filing fees for migration litigants will be used to partially offset the cost of this measure.
19. Machinery of Government
Responsibility for the migrant adult education and also settlement services will be transferred to the Home Affairs portfolio.
The full Federal Budget papers can be accessed on the Budget.gov.au site.
Source: MIA