Pollyana

COVID-19 Temporary Visa Holders Frequently Asked Questions

This attachment is a few days old, but was sent to registered agents anall the info in it is still accurate..

Pollyana

Temporary visa holders in Tasmania get $3m package for financial hardship due to coronavirus

Visa holders who can demonstrate immediate financial hardship will be eligible for $250 for individuals, and $1,000 for families. "It's important we support these people who've been working in our community earning an income and this package will take the steps necessary to do that," he said. "I don't agree with the simple message that temporary visa holders should just go home. In many cases they can't." Workers who can go home will receive financial support from the Government to get back to their home country, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) will also be eligible for emergency relief funds that target temporary visa holders.More details at https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-...lders/12171546

Pollyana

Each State and Territory is doing this their own way:

Queensland:
Qld COVID-19 – Fri May 8: Roadmap released / no new cases / more recoveries - The Queensland Cabinet and Ministerial Directory
https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/government-actions/roadmap-to-easing-queenslands-restrictions

Tasmania:
Premier of Tasmania - Tasmania’s Roadmap to Recovery

South Australia:
https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/recovery

NSW:
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/...08-p54r4v.html

NT:
https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/steps-...map-new-normal

VIC:
https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/healt...nges-c-1026849

WA:
https://www.wa.gov.au/government/covid-19-coronavirus

Pollyana

If you are lucky enough to get permission to leave this place and head north, be aware that the UK is introducing quarantine for travellers - and it must be in a private residence which for some of us would just not be possible.

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-52597437

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-52594023

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-52523320

moneypenny20

Absolutely ludicrous they didn't do this months ago.

Pollyana

The Government has resumed in-person citizenship ceremonies with local councils invited to begin hosting small events where safe to do so and in line with the latest health advice.

We moved quickly to implement online ceremonies when COVID-19 restrictions came into effect and more than 25,000 became Australian citizens via this method.

These online ceremonies meant people could pledge their allegiance to Australia at a time of great uncertainty and become citizens despite face-to-face restrictions.

Now that restrictions are easing, councils will once again be able to host small ceremonies in line with the public gathering requirements in their state or territory.

Online ceremonies will continue for councils unable to host physical events safely so we can continue to see as many people as possible enjoy the privilege of becoming citizens.

Councils can choose to host in-person or online ceremonies, or both. The Department of Home Affairs will also continue to host online ceremonies for those who cannot attend an in-person ceremony.

The Government is also working to resume citizenship testing and interviews in the coming weeks so we can have people moving through all stages of becoming Australian citizens.

https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/...to-resume.aspx

Pollyana

Qantas has cancelled all international flights through to October 24 2020, with the exception of services to New Zealand and, at the time of writing, Tokyo/Haneda.

The airline is in the process of advising travel agents as well as passengers booked on affected flights, with the changes soon expected to flow through to the Qantas website.

October 24 marks the cut-over to the Northern Winter 2020 airline schedule period as defined by the International Air Transport Association.

https://www.executivetraveller.com/n...te-october#_=_

Kooky.

This is not going down well with the Aussies in the US. Many are planning weird and wonderful routes through Doha, etc. I'll just stay put, no burning need to get there as this is home for now. (I had planned an Easter trip, I would love to see friends, but right now I care more about getting to the UK TBH.)

Pollyana

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53222356

The EU has named 14 countries whose citizens are deemed "safe" to be let in from 1 July, despite the pandemic - but the US, Brazil and China are excluded.

Those named include Australia, Canada, Japan, Morocco and South Korea.

Pollyana

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-...toria/12397720

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced borders will reopen to visitors from all states but Victoria from July 10.

Anyone who has travelled from Victoria and enters Queensland from this Friday, including Queenslanders, will have to quarantine at their own expense for 14 days.

If there are further outbreaks of community transmission elsewhere, Ms Palaszczuk said the State Government might review its decision.

Pollyana

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-...ourne/12407138Victoria has reintroduced stay-at-home orders for a series of coronavirus hotspot suburbs in a bid to contain an "unacceptably high" number of new cases detected in the past few days.

From 11:59pm on Wednesday, residents in the following 10 postcodes will be restricted from leaving the house except for essential purposes: 3012, 3021, 3032, 3038, 3042, 3046, 3047, 3055, 3060, 3064.

Premier Daniel Andrews has also announced a judicial inquiry into the state's management of hotel quarantine after a number of cases through late May and early June were linked to infection control breaches.

International flights will be diverted from Melbourne for the next fortnight, to cut the number of arrived travellers who need to be housed in hotel quarantine.

moneypenny20

Considering how many people are queuing to come north at all times of the day for the past couple of weeks, our bit of the border may as well be open already. Pretty sure the world and his wife have printed off permits.

Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.

Pollyana

Strong rumours of extra manpower on the border from now on
However, the devil is going to be in the detail - if they need to quarantine,then where? how will they get there? what happens to their vehicles? Are hotels going to be willing to accept people who may not be able to pay.......? Why do politicians announce things without working out the feasibility?!
Twas a long confusing day in the office!!!

moneypenny20

Replying to myself is odd, however if I thought crossing the border was a pain before... Now it doesn't matter what time or day it is, it's taking over an hour to travel 10km. The border doesn't even open until the 10th.

Are they going to police the self quarantine bods? Are they going to watch these people 24/7 to ensure they don't leave? Are the hotels providing special COVID staff to service these people alone?

All rhetorical, I don't expect you to have the answers. Presumably they think no one will bother but we all know Victorians will come up and live their best lives visiting every pub, club, theme park they can.

Pollyana

You're right, I don't have the answers, and judging by the work chatter following the announcements this week, neither do the police. The one constant thing that everyone was sure of, was that Madam Premier should really have talked to a few people about the practicalities of her plans.
There are even issues possible with the existing quarantine hotels - they were happy to take in quarantined travellers, with all the associated health issues and rules, now they can take the paying public with relaxed rules........its a no-brainer really, the government may start to find it hard to locate anywhere to place travellers requiring quarantine.

Sadly we are also getting reports of cross-border travellers taking out their frustrations by verbally abusing the SES. These guys are volunteers, assisting QPS is part of their remit and many of them are volunteering for long shifts on the border. They don't need abuse in return.