Parliamentary Committee to hold inquiries into migration agents and reviews of visa cancellations
The Federal Parliament's Joint Standing Committee on Migration (the Committee) announced two new inquiries last week. Assistant Minister for Home Affairs, Alex Hawke, has asked the Committee to inquire into the efficacy of current regulation of Australian migration agents. Minister for Home Affairs, Peter Dutton, has asked the Committee to inquire into the review processes associated with visa cancellations made on criminal grounds. Both inquiries were announced on Wednesday 14 March, and are accepting written submissions from the public. Submissions to both inquiries close on Friday 27 April 2018 (20 March 2018). More...

New visa scheme to attract highly skilled global talent
A new visa scheme to attract highly skilled global talent and deliver innovation to Australia will be piloted from 1 July of this year. The Government recognises there is fierce competition globally for high-tech skills and talent, and that attracting these people helps to transfer skills to Australian workers and grow Australian-based businesses (19 March 2018). More...

Bader v Minister for Immigration & Anor [2018] FCCA 485
MIGRATION – Review of Administrative Appeals Tribunal decision – refusal of a family residence visa – Tribunal finding that the applicant would not provide substantial and continuing assistance to the sponsor – whether the Tribunal misconstrued the visa criterion considered – more than one person can provide substantial and continuing assistance – assistance may be substantial even if another carer is providing more substantial assistance – jurisdictional error established. Migration Act 1958 (Cth), ss.359AA, 477; Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth).

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