EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Migration Regulations 1994

DESIGNATED AREAS

(REGULATION ITEM 6701 OF SCHEDULE 6)

1. This Instrument is made under regulation 1.17 and item 6701 of Schedule 6 of the Migration Regulations 1994 (‘the Regulations’).

2.                   Regulation 1.17 provides that the Minister may, by notice published in the Gazette, specify matters required by individual provisions of the Regulations to be specified for the purposes of those provisions.

32. Item 6701 of Schedule 6 of the Regulations provides that a sponsor has been resident in an               area specified in an Instrument in writing by the Minister as a designated area for the               purpose of this item.

43. The purpose of this Instrument is to specify in the Schedule attached to this Instrument by State and Territory and as necessary, by postcode, what is a designated area for the purpose of item 6701 of Schedule 6 to the Regulations.

54. The Instrument operates to specify what areas are designated areas for the Skilled – Designated Area-sponsored and the Skilled – Regional Sponsored visa subclasses. These visa categories provide that an applicant can be sponsored by an Australian relative living in a ‘designated area’. Applicants granted a provisional visa on this basis are subject to a condition that they live, work and study only in a designated area.

75. This Instrument, IMMI 07/060, commences on 1 September 2007.