The objective of this audit was to assess the effectiveness of the Department of Home Affairs' management of family-related visas.

Around 170,000 people are estimated to have permission to remain in the United Kingdom on a ’10-year route to settlement’ - a pathway that requires them to accrue 10 years of continuous lawful residence before they can apply for indefinite leave to remain. In this...

A key recommendation in this inquiry report is for the Department of Home Affairs to develop a long-term strategy to update its system for the processing of visas, and to improve its efficiency, reduce its complexities, reduce waiting times substantially, and to provide greater transparency...

This is a report setting out the findings of the Australian Human Rights Commission (Commission) following an inquiry into the detention of refugees who have had their visas cancelled or refused on character grounds under s 501 of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) (Migration Act).

The Federal Government is predicting a 30 per cent drop in the number of migrants this financial year, and an 85 per cent drop in 2020-21 (compared with 2018-19). Some argue the coronavirus-induced slump offers an opportunity to rethink Australia's migration program.

This report recommends that the Australian government assess all current and future proposals for outsourcing government services against a ‘public interest test’, which includes flow-on economic and employment impacts.

This report examines how sentencing courts deal with an offender’s potential deportation from Australia. It summarises the ways that potential deportation can affect an offender’s sentence. It also identifies unresolved issues that courts may need to consider in the context of sentencing offenders who may...

Permanent residence visas issued to persons sponsored by an Australian resident for a partner visa make up 25% of Australia’s permanent entry migration program. This paper argues that this is because the partner visa is an attractive permanent residence option for the very large number...

This report explores the implications of the parent visa should it be implemented as implied by the limited information Labor has provided on the rules determining who is eligible. It could result in the issuance of some 200,000 parent visas in the next three years...

This inquiry was established to examine the effectiveness of the current temporary skilled visa system in targeting genuine skills shortages.

E⁠n⁠c⁠o⁠u⁠r⁠a⁠g⁠i⁠n⁠g⁠ ⁠m⁠i⁠g⁠r⁠a⁠n⁠t⁠s⁠ ⁠t⁠o⁠ ⁠m⁠o⁠v⁠e⁠ ⁠t⁠o⁠ regional areas could be a win-win' scenario,⁠ as long as policymakers pay attention to five key factors.

New Zealand has a long history of migration from the Pacific. This research uses the Longitudinal Immigration Survey New Zealand (LISNZ) and Statistics New Zealand’s Integrated Data Infrastructure to focus on differences in outcomes between migrants from different Pacific countries who gained residence approval under...

Long-term permanent residents of Australia from all countries must understand that they are not protected from possible deportation for criminal activity, regardless of the length of time they have lived in Australia.

This policy brief examines the impacts of tightening family visa pathways for migrant grandparents and transnational family life.

The inquiry relates, in the first instance, to two interventions by the then Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, under section 195A of the Migration Act 1958 (the Act).

Introducing yet another special agricultural employment visa might destroy the good things about the ones we've got, writes Stephen Howes.

Asked whether he would consider a New Zealand offer to resettle asylum seekers from Nauru and Manus Island, Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton said the plan would be a "complete disaster", and claimed people smugglers would target New Zealand because

The focus of this study is the direct cost of offences committed by organised crime offenders, and the cost of prison sentences associated with these offences.

Has stricter vetting really reduced Australia’s migrant intake?

A new visa scheme to attract highly skilled global talent and deliver innovation to Australia will be piloted from 1 July of this year.

In March 2018, the 457 Visa will be formally abolished and replaced by the Temporary Skills Shortage visa. This FlagPost analyses one part of the visa in an attempt to understand how its credibility may have changed over time.

The Turnbull Government is axing the 457 Visa program and replacing it with a new Temporary Skill Shortage Visa. This comes after a history of problems with the 457 program, including uncovered abuse of workers. The new scheme will be made up of two streams...

Temporary entrants are an important and growing part of the Australian population, with the latest available figures from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) showing close to 1.2 million temporary visa holders in the country as at 30 June 2016. This includes over...

Overview Australia is considered to be one of the world’s major ‘immigration nations‘(together with New Zealand, Canada and the USA). Since 1945, when the first federal immigration portfolio was created, over 7.5 million people have settled here and Australia’s overseas-born resident population—estimated to be 28.2...

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has expressed 'deep concern' at the government's proposal to ban refugees who arrive by boat from ever entering Australia. The UN body has reminded the Turnbull government that Australia has a responsibility to offer protection to all asylum...