Proposed New Model to Simplify Visitor Visas
Friday, 15 April 2011
Joint Media Release with Chris Bowen MP – Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Senator Nick Sherry - Minister for Small Business, Minister Assisting on Deregulation and Public Sector Superannuation and Minister Assisting on Tourism
The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, and Minister Assisting on Deregulation, Senator Nick Sherry, today released a discussion paper for public comment on simplifying Australia's visitor visas.
Under its Better Regulation Agenda, the government has committed to target a 50 per cent reduction across all visas and visa subclasses by 2015.
'The government’s proposal to simplify visitor visas follows on from our recent commitment to streamline temporary work visas,' Mr Bowen said.
'We are undertaking broad public consultation on the visa simplification process, to ensure we consider the impact of any changes on the community.'
The visitor visa discussion paper proposes a simplified visitor visa program, with all short-stay (non-business visitor) work activities to be moved out of the visitor program and into the new unsponsored short-stay visa, which formed part of the temporary work visa proposal.
The proposal also includes a planned reduction in the number of the types of visitor visas from nine to four.
'This streamlining will be achieved by relocating certain short-stay work entitlements and by consolidating common regulatory requirements,' Senator Sherry said.
'The government is planning to achieve further simplification in this area by standardising similar regulations and removing duplicate regulation.'
Individuals and interested parties are encouraged to read the proposal and provide comments by 13 May 2011.
The paper, Making Visitor Visas Simpler, is available on the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website.
See: Simpler Visas
URL: http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/cb/2011/cb164439.htm
Last update: Friday, 15 April 2011 at 16:30 AEST