Migration Legislation Amendment Act (No. 4) 1994

Administered by Department of Home Affairs

Legislation au C2004A04809 In force Act

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Migration Legislation Amendment Act
(No. 4) 1994

No. 136 of 1994

An Act to amend the Migration Act 1958, and for related
purposes

[Assented to 15 November 1994]

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

Short title

1. This Act may be cited as the Migration Legislation Amendment Act (No. 4) 1994.

Commencement

2. This Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

Schedule

3. The Migration Act 1958 is amended in accordance with items 1 and 2 in the Schedule, and item 3 in the Schedule has effect according to its terms.

SCHEDULE Section 3

AMENDMENT OF THE MIGRATION ACT 1958

After Subdivision AH of Division 3 of Part 2:

Insert:

“Subdivision AI—Certain non-citizens unable to apply for certain visas

Reason for Subdivision

“91A. This Subdivision is enacted because the Parliament considers that certain non-citizens who are covered by the CPA, or in relation to whom there is a safe third country, should not be allowed to apply for a protection visa or, in some cases, any other visa. Any such non-citizen who is an unlawful non-citizen will be subject to removal under Division 8.

Interpretation

“91B.(1) In this Subdivision:

‘agreement’ includes a written arrangement or understanding, whether or not binding;

‘CPA’ means the Comprehensive Plan of Action approved by the International Conference on Indo-Chinese Refugees, held at Geneva, Switzerland, from 13 to 14 June 1989.

“(2) For the purposes of this Subdivision, if, apart from this section:

(a) a colony, overseas territory or protectorate of a foreign country; or

(b) an overseas territory for the international relations of which a foreign country is responsible;

is not a country in its own right, the colony, territory or protectorate is taken to be a country in its own right.

Non-citizens covered by Subdivision

“91C.(1) This Subdivision applies to a non-citizen at a particular time if:

(a) the non-citizen is in Australia at that time; and

(b) at that time, the non-citizen is covered by:

(i) the CPA; or

(ii) an agreement, relating to persons seeking asylum, between Australia and a country that is, or countries that include a country that is, at that time, a safe third country in relation to the non-citizen (see section 91D); and

SCHEDULE—continued

“(2) To avoid doubt, a country does not need to be prescribed as a safe third country at the time that the agreement referred to in subparagraph (1)(b)(ii) is made.

Safe third countries

“91D.(1) A country is a ‘safe third country’ in relation to a non-citizen if:

(a) the country is prescribed as a safe third country in relation to the non-citizen, or in relation to a class of persons of which the non-citizen is a member; and

(b) the non-citizen has a prescribed connection with the country.

“(2) Without limiting paragraph (1)(b), the regulations may provide that a person has a prescribed connection with a country if:

(a) the person is or was present in the country at a particular time or at any time during a particular period; or

(b) the person has a right to enter and reside in the country (however that right arose or is expressed).

“(3) The Minister must, within 2 sitting days after a regulation under paragraph (1)(a) is laid before a House of the Parliament, cause to be laid before that House a statement, covering the country, or each of the countries, prescribed as a safe third country by the regulation, about:

(a) the compliance by the country, or each of the countries, with relevant international law concerning the protection of persons seeking asylum; and

(b) the meeting by the country, or each of the countries, of relevant human rights standards for the persons in relation to whom the country is prescribed as a safe third country; and

(c) the willingness of the country, or each of the countries, to allow any person in relation to whom the country is prescribed as a safe third country:

(i) to go to the country; and

(ii) to remain in the country during the period in which any claim by the person for asylum is determined; and

(iii) if the person is determined to be a refugee while in the country—to remain in the country until a durable solution relating to the permanent settlement of the person is found.

“(4) A regulation made for the purposes of paragraph (1)(a) ceases to be in force at the end of 2 years after the regulation commences.

SCHEDULE—continued

Non-citizens to which this Subdivision applies unable to make valid applications for certain visas

“91E. Despite any other provision of this Act, if this Subdivision applies to a non-citizen at a particular time and, at that time, the non-citizen applies, or purports to apply, for a protection visa then, subject to section 91F:

(a) if the non-citizen has not been immigration cleared at that time—neither that application nor any other application made by the non-citizen for a visa is a valid application; or

(b) if the non-citizen has been immigration cleared at that time—neither that application nor any other application made by the non-citizen for a protection visa is a valid application.

Minister may determine that section 91E does not apply to non-citizen

“91F.(1) If the Minister thinks that it is in the public interest to do so, the Minister may, by written notice given to a particular non-citizen, determine that section 91E does not apply to an application for a visa made by the non-citizen in the period starting when the notice is given and ending at the end of the seventh working day after the day that the notice is given.

“(2) The power under subsection (1) may only be exercised by the Minister personally.

“(3) If the Minister makes a determination under subsection (1), he or she is to cause to be laid before each House of the Parliament a statement that:

(a) sets out the determination; and

(b) sets out the reasons for the determination, referring in particular to the Minister’s reasons for thinking that his or her actions are in the public interest.

“(4) A statement under subsection (3) is not to include:

(a) the name of the non-citizen; or

(b) any information that may identify the non-citizen; or

(c) if the Minister thinks that it would not be in the public interest to publish the name of another person connected in any way with the matter concerned—the name of that other person or any information that may identify that other person.

“(5) A statement under subsection (3) is to be laid before each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after:

(a) if the determination is made between 1 January and 30 June (inclusive) in a year—1 July in that year; or

(b) if the determination is made between 1 July and 31 December (inclusive) in a year—1 January in the following year.

SCHEDULE—continued

“(6) The Minister does not have a duty to consider whether to exercise the power under subsection (1) in respect of any non-citizen, whether he or she is requested to do so by the non-citizen or by any other person, or in any other circumstances.”.

2. Section 198:

Add at the end:

“(7) An officer must remove as soon as reasonably practicable an unlawful non-citizen if:

(a) the non-citizen is a detainee; and

(b) Subdivision AI of Division 3 of this Part applies to the non-citizen; and

(i) the non-citizen has not been immigration cleared; or

(ii) the non-citizen has not made a valid application for a substantive visa that can be granted when the applicant is in the migration zone; and

(d) either:

(i) the Minister has not given a notice under subsection 91F(1) to the non-citizen; or

(ii) the Minister has given such a notice but the period mentioned in that subsection has ended and the non-citizen has not, during that period, made a valid application for a substantive visa that can be granted when the applicant is in the migration zone.”.

3. Transitional

(1) Subject to subitem (3), if:

(a) Subdivision AI of Division 3 of Part 2 of the amended Act (“Subdivision AI”) applies to a non-citizen immediately after its commencement; and

(b) during the period (the “transitional period”) from the beginning of 1 September 1994 until immediately before the commencement of Subdivision AI, the non-citizen made an application for a protection visa;

then:

(c) if the non-citizen had not been immigration cleared at the time of making the application—that application and any other application by the non-citizen for a visa made during the transitional period ceases to be a valid application at the commencement of Subdivision AI; and

SCHEDULE—continued

(d) if the non-citizen had been immigration cleared at the time of making the application—that application and any other application by the non-citizen for a protection visa made during the transitional period ceases to be a valid application at the commencement of Subdivision AI; and

(e) on and after the commencement of Subdivision AI, the amended Act applies as if the person had applied for a protection visa immediately after that commencement.

(2) To avoid doubt:

(a) paragraphs (1)(c) and (d) apply even if an application referred to in the paragraph concerned, or a decision in relation to such an application, is the subject of a review by, or appeal or application to, the Immigration Review Tribunal, the Refugee Review Tribunal, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, a Federal Court or any other body or court; and

(b) no visa may be granted to the non-citizen as a direct, or indirect, result of such an application.

(3) Subitem (1) does not apply in relation to a non-citizen who, before the commencement of Subdivision AI, has been granted a substantive visa as a result of the application referred to in subitem (1).

(4) In this item:

“amended Act” means the Migration Act 1958 as amended by this Act.

[Minister’s second reading speech made in—

Senate on 21 September 1994

House of Representatives on 8 November 1994]

Overview

The Migration Legislation Amendment Act (No. 4) 1994, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, amends the Migration Act 1958 to address the problem of certain non-citizens who are covered by the Comprehensive Plan of Action (CPA) or in relation to whom there is a safe third country, being unable to apply for certain visas, particularly protection visas. This amendment was introduced to ensure that such non-citizens do not have the opportunity to apply for specific visas under certain circumstances, thereby aligning with the policy objective of controlling and managing the application processes for these groups of non-citizens. The Act also mandates the removal of unlawful non-citizens who are unable to make valid visa applications under the new provisions. The Act specifies that certain non-citizens who are in Australia and covered by the CPA, or in relation to whom Australia has an agreement with a safe third country, are unable to apply for protection visas or, in some cases, any other visa. These non-citizens, if unlawful, will be subject to removal. The Minister has the authority to exempt certain non-citizens from these restrictions if it is deemed to be in the public interest, subject to parliamentary oversight. Transitional provisions are also included to address applications made during the period before the commencement of these amendments.

Scope and Application

The Migration Legislation Amendment Act (No. 4) 1994 amends the Migration Act 1958 to introduce new provisions that restrict the ability of certain non-citizens to apply for visas. Specifically, this amendment applies to non-citizens in Australia who are covered by the Comprehensive Plan of Action (CPA) or in relation to whom there is a safe third country, as defined in the Act. A safe third country is one that is prescribed as such in regulations, and where the non-citizen has a prescribed connection, such as being present in the country or having a right to enter and reside there. This amendment applies to non-citizens regardless of whether they have been immigration cleared and prevents them from making valid applications for protection visas, or in some cases, any other visas. The Act also mandates the removal of unlawful non-citizens who fall under this amendment if they have not made a valid visa application. The application of this amendment is subject to regulations, which may include exemptions and thresholds. The Act’s provisions are enforced by officers and can be subject to review or appeal, though certain applications and decisions are voided if the amendment applies.

Key Provisions

The Migration Legislation Amendment Act (No. 4) 1994 introduces significant changes to the Migration Act 1958, particularly concerning the eligibility of certain non-citizens to apply for specific visas. The Act introduces Subdivision AI, which imposes restrictions on non-citizens covered by the Comprehensive Plan of Action (CPA) or those who have a connection to a safe third country. According to section 91C, this subdivision applies to non-citizens in Australia who are either covered by the CPA or an agreement relating to asylum seekers between Australia and a safe third country. These non-citizens are barred from applying for a protection visa or, in some cases, any other visa, unless they have been immigration cleared, as detailed in section 91E. However, the Minister has the discretion to determine, in the public interest, that this restriction does not apply to certain non-citizens, as per section 91F. The Act imposes strict obligations on non-citizens who fall under the purview of Subdivision AI. Specifically, such non-citizens are unable to make valid applications for a protection visa or other specified visas unless they have been immigration cleared, as outlined in section 91E. The Minister retains the authority to exempt certain non-citizens from these restrictions, provided that a written notice is issued and the reasons for such exemption are laid before Parliament, as mandated by sections 91F and 91F(3). Additionally, the Minister is required to provide a statement regarding the compliance of safe third countries with international law and human rights standards, as stipulated in section 91D. Failure to comply with the provisions of this Act can result in significant consequences. Non-citizens who are subject to these restrictions and fail to meet the specified criteria for a valid visa application may face removal from Australia. Section 198 outlines the circumstances under which an officer must remove an unlawful non-citizen, particularly if they are a detainee and do not meet the conditions for a valid visa application. Moreover, any applications made by non-citizens during the transitional period will cease to be valid upon the commencement of Subdivision AI, as per the transitional provisions in section 198(1).

Area of Law: Immigration & Refugee Law
Instrument: Act
Concepts: Commencement Provisions; Offence Provisions; Reporting & Disclosure Obligations; Prohibited Conduct

Interactions

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.

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