Background:

The latest BILL allows people with a Hongkong passport to be able to extend their stay in Australia on a 485 or 482 visa to five years and further be eligible for PR after only three years staying in Australia.

Reason:

We represent all subclass 189 visa applicants as well as those currently waiting for the 189 visa invitations.

Since March 2020 when COVID-19 hit Australia, the Department of Home Affairs has tightened the migration policies, in particular for Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189). Migration quota for 2020-2021 Skilled Independent visas (189 visas) has been reduced 61% and the DHA has invited only occupations on the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL). Tens of thousands of us who were planning to apply for the 189 visa or were waiting for the invitations have given up and returned to their home country.

We understand that DHA and the federal government's concerns about COVID-19 and Australia's economic development, and has accepted the current situation that Australia is at a hard time and needs those working in critical sectors to help with economic recovery. However, the latest BILL allows people with a Hongkong passport to be able to extend their stay in Australia on a 485 or 482 visa to five years and further be eligible for PR after only three years staying in Australia. We see a considerable unfairness and injutice as this new BILL has provided a zero-requirement for Hongkong residents to apply for Australian PR whereas we all have spent many years in Australia studing and working and have invested a large amount of money to migrate to Australia.

As we all know, Australia is a multicultural, inclusive, and diverse country, which opens many doors for students from multicultural backgrounds. Students choose to study in Australia not only because they recognize that the universities here can provide high-quality higher education but also because they could stay in Australia through their efforts.

Strongly request the Australian government to treat all applicants fairly! They should not be treated differently because they have different political backgrounds or come from different regions. Many majors of applicantion have not been approved for a long time! The score has reached the highest point, but most of applicants is still waiting!

Our Appeal：

We demand that the Australian government treat fairly and value the contribution and value of each and every visa applicant! We hereby claim, and we ask all students to join us in this petition!

1. Demand an increase in the quota for 189! Increase the quota of skilled migrants under the 189 points-based system! We have spent years scraping together the highest scores! We have spent years scraping together the highest scores! We deserve to be rewarded equally! Why treat us differently?

2. The government has increased the choice of occupations for 189 visa, so that more people can have the possibility of obtaining PR via 189 visa! Why put us on the shortage occupations list and now say we are not needed!

3. Expand the number of 189 places for those who are fighting on the front line for the epidemic, i.e. nursing, not just 491!

4. Lower the income requirement for the 491 to 191 permanent residence visa! It's not our fault that jobs are hard to come by in remote areas as we have done our best! Why should we, the new immigrants who have worked so hard, bear the burden of this mistake! We don't get welfare, but we have paid for it first! Why can't be more tolerant of those who are willing to support regional areas of Australia?