LIN20/283 COVID‑19 Pandemic event for Subclass 408 (Temporary Activity) visa and visa application charge for Temporary Activity (Class GG) visa) Amendment Instrument
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2021L00025 amends LIN20/229: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L01145

Compilation:https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2021C00039

-  The instrument operates to amend LIN 20/229, to specify in new subsections 8(3) and (4) an additional class of persons

- Under new subsection 8(3), an applicant is in a class of persons in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, if the applicant:

a. holds or held a substantive temporary visa which is either 90 days or less from ceasing to be in effect or ceased to be in effect not more than 28 days before the visa application is made; and

b. is currently employed, or has received an offer of employment, in one of the following sectors: aged care, agriculture, child care, disability care, food processing or health care.

- New subsection 8(4) creates a subset of the class of persons specified in subsection 8(3). Subsection 8(4) specifies separate requirements for applicants in relation to employment in the agricultural sector if the applicant:

a. holds or held a Subclass 403 (Temporary Work (International Relations)) visa in the Seasonal Worker Program stream that is 90 days or less from ceasing to be in effect or ceased to be in effect not more than 28 days before the visa application is made; and

b. is employed, or has received an offer of employment, from an approved employer under the Seasonal Worker Programme.

- The instrument amends the class of person specified in subsection 8(2) of LIN 20/229 to include any applicant whose substantive temporary visa is 90 days or less from ceasing to be in effect. This is beneficial to applicants in this class as they may now apply for a Subclass 408 visa before their current visa expires. This amendment ensures the 90 day timeframe is applied consistently in relation to aged care work under either subsection 8(2) or (3) of LIN 20/229.

Migration (Regional Areas) Instrument 2020: LIN 20/292 https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2021L00044

The instrument specifies parts of Australia to be a designated city or major regional centre or a regional centre or other regional area for the purposes of new regulation 1.15M.