Our updates lately seem to be all qualified with ‘this is constantly changing and we will keep you updated’.
As you may have noticed, this certainly is the case!
Today we received a welcome update. As Australia’s strict border measures continue to be in place, Home Affairs and the Border Force Commissioner have today released clarification on the sectors they will consider critical in order to grant a travel waiver to allow temporary visa holders entry into Australia on the basis of critical skills.
The skills exemptions now include those with critical skills required to maintain the supply of essential goods and services such as:
- medical technology
- critical infrastructure
- telecommunications
- engineering and mining
- supply chain logistics
- agricultural technology
- food production
- maritime industry
Or those delivering services in sectors critical to Australia’s economic recovery where no Australian worker is available such as:
- financial technology
- large scale manufacturing
- film and television production
- emerging technology
The process will remain the same, a visa application has to be prepared in tandem with a travel waiver request. However having the sectors clearly identified certain helps but requests will still need to be well substantiated with evidence.
The government has advised that it will be reaching out directly to certain sectors to advise them of this as it tries to balance the risk to the public health and the need to help with Australia’s economic recovery.
Travellers are still grappling with very limited flights that are currently available to and from Australia and the quarantine requirements which is set by the relevant State but movement is happening!
We will be reaching out to clients who could benefit from these changes but as always we are only a phone call away if you would like more information.
DISCLAIMER This information is current as of 28 July 2020 and subject to change. The information contained in this publication is of a general nature only. It should not be used as legal advice. To the extent permissible by law, Ajuria Lawyers and its associated entities shall not be liable for any errors, omissions, defects or misrepresentations in the information or for any loss or damage suffered by persons who use or rely on such information. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.