Australia to utilise business immigration for economic recovery | Sunday Observer

Australia to utilise business immigration for economic recovery

8 August, 2021

Australian borders still remain closed despite the economic toll. However, Australia’s vaccination is gaining momentum raising hopes for better tomorrows for students waiting to study in Australia and others waiting to migrate.

Australian Prime Minister on July 25 said the vaccine hit a record last Saturday, with more than 100,000 doses delivered, bringing the total number to 11.14 million. Thirty-eight percent of the population now has had at least one dose and over 16 percent with two.

“In the past six days, we’ve been able to administer a million doses. So, we’re now able to deliver those a million doses even under a seven-day period, and that is really hitting the marks that we’d hoped to be hitting with that rate of vaccination now… The vaccination rates we’re achieving on a weekly and a daily basis are certainly the marks we’d hoped to be hitting by about this time of the year. And, that means we will continue to make up ground,” the Premier said.

He added that 85 million doses for boosters for 2022 and 2023 have been secured in a new contract put together with Pfizer, in addition to the 40 million doses this year, combined with AstraZeneca vaccines, produced within Australia, and the 10 million Moderna vaccines that come on stream from September. There is 51 million of Novavax, which is also pre-ordered, as well.

The Spokesperson for the Australian Department of Home Affairs, when contacted by the Sunday Observer said, as noted in the recent Australian Government Budget, released in May 2021, the weak outlook for population growth in the near term as a result of border closures is weighing heavily on the outlook for real GDP growth. “Migration has broad benefits for the Australian economy, adding to the supply and the demand of labour. Recent modelling of the economic benefits of migration in the 2021 Intergenerational Report supports this.”

Flexibility

The Spokesperson added that Australia’s 2021-22 Migration Program settings are designed to maximise flexibility for increased migration when conditions allow, recognising the timing for international travel restrictions easing remains unclear.

“The Australian Government is in discussions with all states and territories about continued planning for international student arrivals when conditions allow. These discussions are led by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment. Any future decisions on the return of international students will be guided by expert health advice,” the Spokesperson said.

The Australian Department of Home Affairs reiterated that Australia “looks forward to welcoming international students back to our classrooms, campuses and communities when conditions allow.

To support international student arrivals, the Government has developed the Protocols and Preconditions for International Student Arrivals.”

This protocol outlines the steps for states and territories and education institutions to prepare for international student arrivals at scale, using either hotel and/or industry-led models of quarantine. This document is subordinate to other border and health protocols, and is subject to change, including incorporating lessons learnt from pilots.

“States and territories are responsible for using these protocols to develop plans for international student arrivals. Any plan must be approved by the relevant state or territory First Minister and Chief Health Officer, to ensure the health and safety of Australians and international students,” the Spokesperson said, adding “holding a visa does not allow a student to travel to Australia.

Restrictions on travel to Australia remain in place for students not offered the opportunity to travel to Australia under a state or territory Student Arrival Plan or under an existing exemption category. Quarantine arrangements are a matter for local state and territory governments.” Detailed information on Australia’s border arrangements during the Covid-19 pandemic can be found at https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/.

Speaking on the Business Migration opportunities, Specialist Immigration Lawyer from Melbourne, Don Susantha Katugampala said the Australian economy has done excellently compared to many other economies in the world. With the new financial year, certain priorities have been given to business migration. Visa structure or subclass has not changed on July 1 but the requirements for each visa subclass has changed.

“For Business Owner Visa, the turnover of your business overseas has increased from AUS $ 500,000 to AUS $ 750,000 a year for two financial years.

Applicant

The asset requirements has increased from AUS $ 800,000 to AUS $ 1.25 million between the applicant and the applicant’s spouse. The asset ownership must be there for two years prior to the application. If you come on investor visa, the old system prior to July 1 was to invest AUS $ 1.5 million in Government bonds.

This has increased to AUS $ 2.5 million into Government bonds in the state that you’ve been nominated. For the significant investor visa, the requirement has not changed but remains AUS $ 5 million. In the significant investor visa, the benefit is that in order to secure your permanent residency you need to spend the minimum time in Australia which is the advantage for the investor.

The Government is giving some priority to the entrepreneur visa which was in the regulations but from July 1 the Government has taken special initiative to promote that entrepreneur visa where the entrepreneurs can secure their migrations.

But the entrepreneur visa requires that the applicant propose the entrepreneurial activity which has to be an innovation and a beyond average business plan. If the applicant secures that then they would receive a successful business migration.”

Katugampala added: “There’s a positive economic growth in Australia with the lowest unemployment rate compared to many other Western countries. Therefore, those from other parts of the world are looking to come to Australia to invest. The Government becomes selective in raising the bar for the business migration applicants. So it’s important to seek proper advice and then submit the application with proper documentation.”

Migration

He said that there is priority for business migration and the biggest quota for business migration is in New South Wales, the commercial hub of Australia.

“As Fairfields Lawyers, we focus on migration, business, skilled, employer sponsored migrations, global talent migration. As lawyers, we assist in commercial and business law.

Rather than going to a business broker, the commercial networks in Australia being built over the years matters to our clients. For that you need to secure good legal advice before investing to secure your investment,” Katugampala added.

As vaccination gains momentum in many countries including Sri Lanka and Australia, partnerships are set to develop with more vigour in a post-Covid scenario.

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