Purpose

4               The instrument operates to specify temporary visa subclasses which may lead to permanent visas for subparagraphs 4005(2)(b)(ii) and 4007(1A)(b)(ii) of Schedule 4 to the Regulations. 

5               Public interest criteria (PIC) 4005 and 4007, set out in Schedule 4 to the Regulations, apply to visa subclasses where it is specified as a criterion for the grant of a visa in Schedule 2 of the Regulations for that subclass.  PICs 4005 and 4007 provide that visa applicants must be free from a disease or condition in relation to which a person who has it would be likely to require health care or community services or meet the medical criteria for the provision of a community service, and the provision of which would be likely to result in a significant cost to the Australian community in the areas of, or prejudice the access of an Australian citizen or permanent resident to, health care or community services.  If an application is for a temporary visa of a subclass specified for subparagraph 4005(2)(b)(ii) or 4007(1A)(b)(ii) of Schedule 4 to the Regulations, then the applicant’s health and associated costs will be assessed for the same period for which a permanent visa is assessed, that is, a period commencing when the application is made. 

6               The purpose of the instrument is to update the specified temporary visa subclasses by adding two new subclasses, namely Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) and Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (subclass 494).  

7               The instrument does not specify certain temporary visa subclasses which were previously specified in IMMI 16/067, as those visa subclasses have been repealed and closed to new applications before the commencement of the instrument.