EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Migration Regulations 1994
DESIGNATED APEC ECONOMIES
(REGULATION 1.03 DEFINITION OF “DESIGNATED APEC ECONOMY”)
- This Instrument is made under regulation 1.03 of the Migration Regulations 1994 (‘the Regulations’), definition of “designated APEC economy”.
2. Regulation 1.03 of the Regulations defines the term “designated APEC economy” to mean an APEC economy specified by Gazette Notice for the purposes of that definition.
3. The purpose of the Instrument is to allow nationals of countries specified in the Instrument to be eligible to apply for the Temporary Business Entry (Class UC) visa under regulation 2.07AA of the Regulations, as applicants to the APEC Business Travel Card (‘ABTC’) scheme. The ABTC scheme provides accredited business people streamlined entry to participating economies.
4. The Instrument replaces an existing Instrument in order to expand the definition of “designated APEC economy” to include Mexico, Canada and the United States of America as members of the ABTC scheme. This ensures Australia can honour its commitment to process applications submitted by designated APEC economy Governments as approved applicants under the ABTC scheme. Mexico, Canada and the United States of America have announced their intention to participate in the ABTC scheme and Australia needs to be ready to process their applicants as soon as this eventuates. Australian applicants under the ABTC scheme will then be considered by the Governments of Mexico, Canada and the United States of America when they begin processing applications, and if accepted will be able to enter these economies under the provisions of the ABTC scheme.
5. This Instrument does not have a direct, or a substantial indirect, effect on business or restrict competition (subsection 17(1) and section 18 of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 refer). As such, consultation was not undertaken.
6. This Instrument, IMMI 08/096, commences on 15 February 2009.