The Department of Home Affairs has announced changes in the Partner Visa program aimed at protecting vulnerable migrants from people who commit violent crimes against women and children.
Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, Alan Tudge said some Partner Visa applicants, particularly those with low English proficiency, were at risk.
“They are often less likely to have an established support network in Australia, less likely to understand Australian laws and less likely to know how and where to seek assistance,” Mr Tudge said.
He said in order to counter this, the family sponsorship framework to Partner Visas would be extended.
This would require an Australian citizen or permanent resident sponsor of a Partner Visa to be assessed against character and sponsorship obligations and approved before a visa application could be made.
“It will also require sponsors to agree to certain results of their character checks being shared with their partner prior to the visa application being lodged. This may include information indicating a potential threat, such as charges and convictions of a violent nature,” Mr Tudge said.
“This ensures their partner can make an informed decision about whether or not to proceed with the visa application, especially in circumstances where children are involved.”
He said it also meant applicants could feel empowered to walk away from a potentially violent relationship based on the information shared, before they lodged and paid for the visa application.
“The changes build on existing provisions in Australia’s migration laws to allow provisional Partner Visa or prospective Marriage Visa holders who experience family violence to continue with their Permanent Visa application even if their relationship breaks down,” the Minister said.
