February at Nomos
As we say farewell to February and another summer (bring on some cooler weather, we say!), our prediction that 2024 will be a busy year is proving to be correct! Though a little shorter than the other months, February sure hasn’t felt that way with so much happening both inside and outside Nomos. Here are some key takeaways this month:
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- Two unexpected outcomes in February – an approval of an application for Australian citizenship by conferral relying on a Ministerial discretion based on an administrative error, as well as invitations to apply for NSW state nomination for a subclass 190 visa. We have also seen multiple visa grants, including TSS (subclass 482), ENS (subclass 186), and Temporary work [Short-Stay Specialist] (subclass 400) visas.
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- The Migration Amendment (Strengthening Employer Compliance) Bill became legislation and will come into effect on 1 July 2024. As an amendment to the Migration Act 1958, the Bill aims to strengthen employer (sponsor) compliance through both criminal and civil means. New sanctions will be actionable upon employers who breach compliance obligations by improperly influencing or coercing non-citizens into accepting an employment arrangement that violates their visa conditions, with penalties including fines or even imprisonment. Further, a new system will allow DHA to monitor ‘prohibited employers’ (i.e. those who have failed to uphold migration laws) more accurately and impose appropriate restrictions on such individuals and organisations. For more details, the Government’s explanatory memorandum can be found here. If you believe your business may be impacted by these forthcoming changes, please feel free to reach out to us for confidential advice.
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- On 25 February 2024, the Australian Universities Accord final report was released by The Hon. Jason Clare MP, Minister for Education. The report details an ideal framework for the future of Australia’s universities, including the crucial role of international students, and makes several recommendations with the aim of improving immigration policy. Specifically, the report highlights the fact that nearly 450,000 international students in 2022 (which represents more than 25% of total enrolments in 2022) paid fees for higher education and contributed significantly to the economic workings of Australia’s tertiary education sector, which is Australia’s fourth largest export. Some of the key recommendations the report highlights is the need for Government and tertiary education providers to work together to ensure a more focused alignment and coordination between the courses marketed to international students, and that both should support the growth of international education in regional and remote areas. It is unknown if or when the Government will respond to these recommendations or how they may influence future policy.
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- Mardi Gras is almost upon us! At Nomos, we regularly work with members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and we are proud allies. We acknowledge that the LGBTQIA+ community often encounters challenges in dealing with the immigration system, which is why an event like Mardi Gras that recognises and celebrates inclusion is so important. It’s also a lot of fun, and adds to what makes Sydney such a great place to live. We wish everyone celebrating a safe and happy Mardi Gras – look after yourselves and each other!
That’s the Nomos wrap-up for February. 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.