Migration Legislation Amendment Act (No. 5) 1995

Administered by Department of Home Affairs

Legislation au C2004A04950 Not in force Act

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Migration Legislation Amendment Act (No. 5) 1995

No. 100 of 1995

 

An Act to amend the law relating to migration

[Assented to 15 September 1995]

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

Short title

1. This Act may be cited as the Migration Legislation Amendment Act (No. 5) 1995.

Commencement

2.(1) Subject to this section, this Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.


(2) Items 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 11 and 12 of Schedule 1 are taken to have commenced immediately after the commencement of section 83 of the Migration Legislation Amendment Act 1994.

Note: Section 83 of the Migration Legislation Amendment Act 1994 commenced on 1 September 1994.

(3) Item 17 of Schedule 1 is taken to have commenced immediately after the commencement of the Migration (Delayed Visa Applications) Tax Act 1992.

Note: The Migration (Delayed Visa Applications) Tax Act 1992 commenced on 1 September 1994.

(4) Subject to subsection (5), item 19 of Schedule 1 to this Act commences on the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.

(5) If this Act receives the Royal Assent after the day on which the Migration Legislation Amendment Act (No. 6) 1995 receives the Royal Assent, items 19 and 20 of Schedule 1 to this Act are repealed on that day.

Schedule 1

3. The Acts specified in Schedule 1 to this Act are amended in accordance with the applicable items in that Schedule, and the other items in that Schedule have effect according to their terms.

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SCHEDULE 1 Section 3

Immigration (Education) Act 1971

1. Certain persons not entitled to tuition

(1) Despite section 4C of the Immigration (Education) Act 1971, the Commonwealth is not obliged to provide, or arrange for the provision of, any tuition in an approved English course to a person if the person was granted a visa, whether or not after the commencement of this item, because the person satisfied paragraph 816.721(1)(a) or 818.721(1)(a) of the Migration (1993) Regulations.

(2) If, immediately before the commencement of this item, the Commonwealth had an obligation under that Act to a person covered by subitem (1), that obligation ceases at the commencement of this item.

Migration Act 1958

2. Subsection 5(1) (definition of “visa tax”):

Omit the definition.

3. Subsection 64(4):

Omit the subsection.

4. Subparagraph 65(l)(a)(iv):

Omit “any visa tax,”.

5. Section 72:

Add at the end:

“; or (c) the Minister has determined to be an eligible non-citizen.

“(2) The Minister may make a determination under paragraph (1)(c) that a non-citizen is an eligible non-citizen if:

(a) the non-citizen was an unlawful non-citizen when he or she entered the migration zone; and

(b) the non-citizen made a valid application for a protection visa after he or she arrived in Australia; and

(c) the non-citizen has been in immigration detention for a period of more than 6 months after the application for a protection visa was made; and

(d) the Minister has not made a primary decision in relation to the application for a protection visa; and

(e) the Minister thinks that the determination would be in the public interest.


SCHEDULE 1—continued

“(3) The power to make a determination under paragraph (1)(c) may only be exercised by the Minister personally.

“(4) If the Minister makes a determination under paragraph (1)(c), 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.

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

(a) the name of any non-citizen who is the subject of the determination; 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 the person.

“(6) A statement under subsection (4) 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.

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

6. Paragraph 84(3)(b):

Omit “valid permanent visa”, substitute “permanent visa that is in effect”.

7. Paragraph 222(7)(a):

Omit “deportee’s” (wherever occurring), substitute “non-citizen’s”.

8. Division 7 of Part 3 (heading):

Omit “3 years", substitute "4 years”.

9. Subsection 333(1):

Omit “3 years”, substitute “4 years”.

Note: The heading to section 333 is altered by omitting “3 years” and substituting “4 years”.


SCHEDULE 1—continued

10. Subsection 333(4):

Omit “2 years”, substitute “3 years”.

11. Subsection 424(1):

Omit “sections 417”, substitute “sections 418”.

12. Section 451:

Omit “section 417”, substitute “section 418”.

13. Paragraph 475(2) (e):

Omit the paragraph, substitute:

“(e) a decision of the Minister not to exercise, or not to consider the exercise of, his or her power under section 48B, paragraph 72(1)(c), section 91F, 345,351, 391,417 or 454;”.

14. Subsection 506(3):

Omit “are to include”, substitute “may include, but are not limited to,”.

15. Subsection 506(3):

After “about” insert “any or all of the following”.

16. Subsection 506(3):

Omit “and” (wherever occurring).

17. Application of amendment of section 475:

The amendment made by item 13 applies to decisions whether made before or after the commencement of this item.

Migration (Delayed Visa Applications) Tax Act 1992

18. Repeal the Act.

19. Transitional—cancellation of debts and refunds of tax paid

(1) If, apart from this item, a person would be liable to pay an amount to the Commonwealth as a result of a debt arising under the Migration (Delayed Visa Applications) Tax Act 1992, the debt ceases to be payable at the commencement of this item.

(2) If a person has paid an amount of tax imposed, or purportedly imposed, by the Migration (Delayed Visa Applications) Tax Act 1992 and the person is not entitled to a refund of that amount, the person is entitled, at the commencement of this item, to be paid by the Commonwealth an amount equal to that amount. The Consolidated Revenue Fund is appropriated for the purposes of this subsection.


SCHEDULE 1—continued

Migration Legislation Amendment Act (No. 6) 1995

20. Section 17:

Repeal the section.

21. Section 18:

Repeal the section.

 

[Minister’s second reading speech made in

House of Representatives on 11 May 1995 Senate on 29 May 1995]

Overview

The Migration Legislation Amendment Act (No. 5) 1995 was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to address gaps and issues within the existing migration laws, particularly in relation to the processing of delayed visa applications and the obligations concerning tuition for certain visa holders. This Act, which received Royal Assent on 15 September 1995, seeks to streamline and refine the legislative framework to better manage migration-related issues. The Act includes amendments to several key pieces of legislation, such as the Migration Act 1958 and the Immigration (Education) Act 1971, among others. The overarching objective of the Act is to ensure the efficient and effective administration of migration laws, including the removal of certain obligations and the introduction of new provisions to better align with public interest considerations, as well as to address the complexities surrounding delayed visa applications and their associated taxes.

Scope and Application

The Migration Legislation Amendment Act (No. 5) 1995 applies to various legislative changes concerning migration law, impacting multiple entities and persons involved in the migration process. The Act amends the Migration Act 1958, the Immigration (Education) Act 1971, and the Migration (Delayed Visa Applications) Tax Act 1992, affecting non-citizens, the Commonwealth, and those subject to the regulations outlined within these Acts. Specifically, it modifies provisions related to tuition obligations for certain persons, the definition and application of visa taxes, and the conditions under which certain visas may be granted or denied. Additionally, the Act repeals the Migration (Delayed Visa Applications) Tax Act 1992 and includes transitional provisions for the cancellation of debts and refunds of taxes under that Act. The Act’s provisions apply across the Commonwealth of Australia, influencing federal migration policy and administrative processes. Exclusions and specific exemptions are detailed within the amended Acts themselves, particularly in relation to eligibility for tuition and visa conditions. The Act also allows for the extension or restriction of its application through subordinate instruments, although the primary focus remains on legislative amendments to the specified Acts.

Key Provisions

The Migration Legislation Amendment Act (No. 5) 1995 introduces several amendments to existing legislation concerning migration. Among the key changes, Section 1(1) of the Immigration (Education) Act 1971 now excludes certain individuals from being entitled to tuition in approved English courses, even if they were previously granted a visa under specific circumstances (Schedule 1, Item 1). The Migration Act 1958 has been amended to redefine "visa tax" and remove specific subsections and subparagraphs that previously defined and regulated visa taxes (Schedule 1, Items 2, 3, and 4). Additionally, the Act now allows the Minister to determine if a non-citizen is an "eligible non-citizen" under certain conditions, such as being an unlawful non-citizen who applied for a protection visa and has been in detention for over six months (Schedule 1, Item 5). The Act also modifies the period for which non-citizens can be detained from three years to four years in several provisions (Schedule 1, Items 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10). Furthermore, the Act updates references to certain sections and removes others, while also repealing the Migration (Delayed Visa Applications) Tax Act 1992 and providing for the cancellation of debts and refunds of tax paid under that Act (Schedule 1, Items 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19). The Act imposes specific obligations on the Minister for Home Affairs and other relevant authorities. For instance, the Minister must consider whether a non-citizen qualifies as an "eligible non-citizen" under the conditions specified and must provide a statement to Parliament explaining any such determination (Schedule 1, Item 5). The Minister also has a responsibility to ensure that certain individuals are not provided with tuition in approved English courses under the amended Immigration (Education) Act 1971 (Schedule 1, Item 1). Authorities must also comply with the updated detention periods and other procedural changes as outlined in the Migration Act 1958 amendments (Schedule 1, Items 6 to 10). Failure to comply with the provisions of this Act may result in various consequences. For example, providing tuition to individuals who are not entitled to it under the amended Immigration (Education) Act 1971 could lead to legal repercussions. Additionally, the Minister's failure to adhere to the requirements for determining "eligible non-citizens" and providing statements to Parliament could result in scrutiny and potential legal challenges. While specific penalties are not detailed in the Act, breaches of migration laws generally carry significant civil and criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment, depending on the severity of the violation.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Immigration & Refugee Law
Instrument
Act
Concepts
Commencement Provisions
Repeal & Amendment
Offence Provisions
Reporting & Disclosure Obligations
Enforcement Powers
Regulatory Standards

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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.