Updates on Contributory Parent Subclass 143 Queue and COVID-19 Biosecurity Emergency Extended
Contributory Parent Subclass 143 Queue Dates
The department provides that due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, they have been taking disruptions arising from the pandemic into account when considering applications. As of May 2021, the department had released Contributory Parent visa applications with a queue date up to May 2016 for final processing.
Haven’t received a queue date letter?
It has been found that some Contributory Parent Subclass 143 visa applications have received queue date letters and others have not. The Department has provided that all applications lodged prior to 1 June 2018 have automatically been allocated a queue date that is the same as the date of lodgement.
COVID-19 Biosecurity Emergency Extended to 17 September 2021
By operation of Instrument F2021L00727, the Biosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency) (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) Declaration provides to extend the human biosecurity emergency period for a further 3 months until 17 September 2021, unless further extended by the Governor-General.
Purpose of Declaration and Extension
The declaration ensures the Government has the powers to take any necessary measures to prevent and control COVID-19. This extends the 4 existing emergency determinations including:
Mandatory pre-departure testing and mask-wearing for international flights
Restrictions on the entry of cruise vessels within Australian territory
Restrictions on outbound international travel for Australians
Restrictions on trade of retail outlets at the international airport
The persisting existence of COVID-19 and the recent spike in cases in Australia may have warranted the need to extend this emergency period. As emergency periods can only be declared for 3 months at a time, on 10 June 2021 the government varied the declaration to extend the period for a further 3 months.
What are emergency periods?
A human biosecurity emergency declaration period is the period in which the declaration is in force and legislative policy provides that an emergency period may be imposed where human biosecurity exists.
Section 475(1) of the Biosecurity Act 2015 provides that a Governor-General may declare that a human biosecurity exists if the Health Minister is satisfied that:
(a) A listed human disease is posing a severe and immediate threat, or is causing harm, to human health on a nationally significant scale; and
(b) The declaration is necessary to prevent or control:
(i) The entry of the listed human disease into Australian territory or part of an Australian territory; or
(ii) The emergence, establishment or spread of the listed human disease in Australian territory or part of Australian territory
How Can Agape Henry Crux Help You
If you want to find out more about your eligibility or need advice on your Australian migration matter, please do not hesitate to contact us. You can book a Migration Planning Session with one of our immigration lawyers to seek professional advice by calling 02-7200 2700 or email us to book in a time at info@ahclawyers.com.
We speak fluent English, Korean, Mandarin, Cantonese, Indonesian, Burmese and Malay. If these aren’t your language, we can also help you arrange an interpreter.
This article/presentation (“publication”) does not deal extensively with important topics or changes in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you find this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances please contact our office.