News
July 29, 2024
Our Response to the Review into Significant Cost Threshold
We hold significant concern that the findings in the recently released Report on the Department of Home Affairs Review of Australia’s migration health requirement (MHR) fall well short of what is needed.
You can read our full Media Release here
July 2, 2024
Significant Cost Threshold
The Welcoming Disability Campaign is pleased to note that the Significant Cost Threshold for visa applicants has been increased from $51,000 to $86,000 from 1 July 2024.
While this is not as large an increase as we had hoped to see, and while it still leaves Australia very much out-of-step with countries such as Canada and New Zealand, we are hopeful there may be more positive changes to come when the report from the recent review of the Significant Cost Threshold is released. We understand that this will be in the next month or two.
May 22, 2024
Update on the Review into the Significant Cost Threshold of Migration Health Requirements
We have been busy behind the scenes as usual, since submitting our Submission late last year to the Department of Home Affairs’ Review of the Significant Cost Threshold.
Read our Submission and Recommendations here.
On the basis of the very large number of endorsements our Submission received from key civil society allies and stakeholders, the Department now recognises Welcoming Disability as a key spokesperson on this area.
At a recent discussion with the Department, Welcoming Disability was advised that the Review was complete and, by now will have been handed to the Minister for approval. The Minister now has three months to make the Review public, though that does not mean it will be implemented at that point.
December 13, 2023
Our submission to the Review into the Significant Cost Threshold of Migration Health Requirements
We are pleased that the Department of Home Affairs announced a review into the Significant Cost Threshold of the Migration Health Requirement, following some pressure in this area from ourselves and the Greens. This followed ongoing discussions with the Department and the Greens over the last few months regarding Welcoming Disability’s position on these matters.
You can read our submission here. This submission has been endorsed by over 70 different organisations and individuals.
The Recommendations we made in our Submission all reflect Welcoming Disability policy, as set out on our website.
You can access our media release regarding our Submission here.
We also expressed our concerns to the Department regarding the very tight timeline for the making submissions, and our view that the timeline did not allow for full consultation with people with disability, or others such as CALD groups across civil society, preventing them from maximising their participation in this Review.
October 16, 2023
Response to the Disability Royal Commission’s Recommendations
Welcoming Disability welcomes the Disability Royal Commission’s recommendation to review discriminatory migration health requirements, which have been described as archaic and degrading by leading disability advocates.
Read our Media Release below.
March 21, 2023
Our open letter to federal government
A group of more than 100 organisations and experts signed an open letter calling for urgent reform of Australia’s migration health laws to remove their discriminatory impact on people with disabilities and health conditions. The letter is part of the Welcoming Disability Campaign led by Down Syndrome Australia and Australian Lawyers for Human Rights.
Read our Open Letter calling on federal government to end discrimination against migrants with disability.
March 23, 2023
Submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Migration
Estrin Saul Migration Specialists together with Welcoming Disability provided a submission in response to the 2023 Inquiry into Migration, Pathway to Nation Building. To protect visa applicants with disabilities from discrimination, we recommend a number of strategies to the Inquiry.
Read our submission here.
December 15, 2022
Submission to the Department of Home Affairs
Estrin Saul Migration Specialists together with Welcoming Disability provided a submission in response to the 2022 Review of Australia’s Migration System. This submission was made in response to an invitation from Minister Andrew Giles.
Read our submission here.
August, 2021
Submission to the Disability Royal Commission
Welcoming Disability and Down Syndrome Australia provided a submission to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of People with Disability. This submission highlights the issues faced by people with disabilities and their families living in Australia as temporary residents in gaining access to Commonwealth disability support services.
Read our submission here.
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SBS News: A new campaign hopes to end Australian visa battles for people with disability