This new procedure took effect 1 December 2007.

A detention review officer (DRO) is an Immigration officer appointed by the Secretary in the relevant State or Territory who must be ‘notified’ of a Bridging E visa (BVE) application made by a person in immigration detention for the application to be valid.

DROs may be Compliance officers delegated to grant a BVE.

Regulation 2.10A of the Migration Regulations provides that for an application for a BVE made by a non-citizen in immigration detention to be valid, the person lodging the application (whether or not the person is the applicant) must inform the DRO in the State or Territory where the applicant is detained of the making of the application.

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A Bridging E visa granted by operation of law will permit the applicant to remain in Australia for:

• 5 working days from the date of grant or

• if the Minister of immigration, or his delegate, is satisfied within 5 days of the grant, that the visa holder has made acceptable arrangements to depart Australia within 14 days from the date of grant, 14 days from the date of grant.

The ‘two-day clock’ commences on the day after the immigration detention review officer (DRO) is informed of the application.

Immigration practice requires that a decision is made on the application at the earliest possible opportunity, within two working days. For example, a DRO is informed of an application at 4pm on Friday afternoon. The two-day working clock starts on the next working day.

In this case that would be Monday, because Saturday, Sunday and public holidays are not working days and are not counted. The clock would cease at midnight on Tuesday.

Under new migration practice a Detention Review Officer is informed of an application when they receive a:

• copy of the page of the substantive visa application which incorporates the bridging visa application or
• copy of the Notice of Lodgment of Bridging Visa E Application

• completed form 1008 faxed to the relevant DRO. For those clients not in a place of Detention occupied by an Immigration Officer
• letter, fax or email stating that an application for BVE has been made

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Business bemoans silence on skilled worker intake
The Australian Financial Review, 24 November, 2007

The major parties have been silent on the issue of skilled migration this election campaign.

But if business had its way, the parties would be competing to see who could boost Australia’s skilled migrant intake the most to ease the skills shortages in the economy.

Some estimates have a shortfall of as many as 300,000 new labour market entrants over the next five years. The Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry says the state will have 400,000 new jobs to fill over the next decade. The Minerals Council of Australia says the mining industry will need to employ an extra 70,000 workers by 2015.But neither Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews nor his Shadow, Tony Burke, has touched the politically sensitive issue of migration in their party election pitches.

Andrews will say little more than the government is prepared to assess the skilled migration program year by year. He’s quick to take a swipe at the unions, saying they have tried to sabotage the government’s current efforts to attract permanent and temporary skilled migration.

The government’s preferred methods of bring in bringing in temporary skilled workers, the 457 visa, has come under fire following allegations of rogue employers abusing workers brought in under the scheme.

In response, the government has attempted to increase the responsibilities and costs of employers wishing to bring in 457 workers. But these laws have been bogged down in parliament in June 2007 and missed their anticipated October 1 start date.

Business organisations such as the Australian Industry Group are opposed to the the changes, which they say will increase the cost and difficulty in bringing in much-needed 457 workers.

There also have been calls to widen the 457 visa to include semi-skilled and even unskilled workers - a move ruled out by Andrews in the past.

Removal threat recedes for family

Claims that a Filipino family face imminent deportation, leaving their mildly intellectually disabled Australian son to fend for himself, have been rejected by the Minister for Immigration. . .
[More…external link]

Relax immigration laws, says Woodside

The head of one of Australia’s biggest resource companies wants the next federal government to relax immigration laws so that more skilled workers can be recruited from overseas…
[more…external link]

Migration Regulations 1994 are amended to introduce a new requirement (PIC 4019) that applicants for permanent and selected temporary visas must sign a statement that among things, they will respect Australian values and will comply with Australian law for the duration of their in Australia (a value statements).

Non compliance by visa applicants can lead to their visa being refused.

This remains effective from 15 October 2007.

Subclass 471 (Trade Skills Training) visa (’Subclass 471 visa’) and associated trade skills training sponsorships are repealed. However Subclass 471 visas granted 10 September 2007 continues in effect.

The term domestic violence has been replaced with ‘family violence’, which has a new definition, to reflect the Family Law Act 1975. Amendments have also been made to various provisions regarding evidence of family violence.