Health ref. no. 803
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT
HEALTH INSURANCE ACT 1973
Health Insurance (Eligible persons and persons in the Trafficked People Program) Order 2017
I, GREG HUNT, Minister for Health, pursuant to subsection 6(1) of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (the Act), hereby DECLARE that:
(a) Every person included in the specified class, being persons who:
(i) are lawfully residing in Australia;
(ii) are holders of a valid visa issued under the Migration Act 1958;
(iii) are included in the Support for Trafficked People Program; and
(iv) but for this Order, would not be eligible persons for the purposes of the Act,
shall be treated as being an eligible person for the purposes of the Act, according to the dates specified in the current Schedule.
(b) This Order shall have effect from the date of signature.
Date this 26th day of October 2017.
GREG HUNT
MINISTER FOR HEALTH
ATTACHMENT – STATEMENT OF REASONS
Health Insurance Act 1973
Class order under subsection 6(1)
ORDER NO: 803
DATE: 2017
RELATED ORDERS: Individual orders: 522, 524, 528, 552, 556, 557, 563, 569, 572, 575, 578, 581, 605, 612, 613, 620, 621, 626, 627, 631, 633, 650, 654, 656, 662, 664, 672, 676, 679, 687, 688, 689, 691, 692, 693, 694, 696, 697, 699, 700, 703, 704, 706, 710, 712, 714, 716, 718, 719, 722, 723, 724, 726, 728, 729, 731, 732, 735, 736, 737, 741, 742, 744, 746, 747, 748, 750, 751, 752, 753, 754, 756, 75
Class orders: 759, 766, 784
NAME OF PERSON/GROUP: Support for Trafficked People Program
REASON FOR APPROVAL:
As part of Government support for victims of people trafficking, in August 2003 the Government agreed to grant Medicare eligibility to this class.
Initially, victims were first issued a Bridging Visa for a 30-day period. During this period, a decision was made on whether or not victims would be a suitable candidate for giving evidence at criminal hearings. Where victims remained in Australia, they will be issued a Criminal Justice Stay Visa (CJSV) or a temporary Witness Protection visa for the time they are on the Program.
After a Program review in 2009, the criteria were changed so that it is no longer necessary to hold one of these visas. People on the Program now may hold any type of visa.
Persons in the attached Schedule are on the Support for Trafficked People Program. This subsection 6(1) Order is issued to enable their access to Medicare. The Medicare date of effect is specified in respect of each individual listed in the Schedule.
Note: The name of this instrument was amended on registration as the instrument as lodged did not have a unique name (see subsection 10(2), Legislation Rule 2016).