The Albanese Government is delivering on its electoral promise to give current holders of Temporary Protection Visas (TPV) and Safe Haven Enterprise Visas (SHEV) access to a permanent visa pathway.
For the past ten years, refugees on TPVs and SHEVs have been maintained in a limbo situation. The Albanesian government promised to offer these visa holders a permanent route, and as of right now, it is following through on that promise.
The pledge, according to the Hon. Clare O’Neil MP, Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security, only pertained to anyone who entered Australia before Operation Sovereign Borders began.
For the avoidance of doubt, if you attempt to enter Australia without a valid visa, then you will be refused entry and sent back to your port of origin. With Operation Sovereign Borders, there is absolutely no chance of settling in Australia.
“Our seas are being patrolled by the Australian Border Force and Australian Defense Force to intercept and return any boats that attempt to enter.”
The Hon. Andrew Giles MP, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, and Multicultural Affairs, stated that all individuals on TPVs and SHEVs have been determined to be refugees and are in need of Australia’s protection.
Due to the actions of the previous Liberal administration, “thousands of TPV and SHEV holders in the community have undergone 10 years of uncertainty.” Giles stated.
“TPV and SHEV owners establish lives in our communities, typically in rural and regional locations. They work, pay taxes, start businesses, employ Australians, and do so. But, they have been unable to obtain loans to purchase homes, start businesses, or advance their studies without permanent permits.
“Keeping them in limbo makes no sense, either economically or socially.”
The Albanese Government has pledged $9.4 million over two years for visa application assistance through specialized legal service providers all around Australia to help TPV and SHEV holders with the visa application procedure.
The structure of Australia’s Operation Sovereign Borders policy has not altered. Anybody who makes an unauthorized boat trip to Australia will be sent back to their starting place, transferred to another nation, or repatriated to their home country.
Any non-citizens who are determined to have exhausted all options for staying in Australia and to have disregarded Australia’s protection commitments are required to leave as soon as practicable.
