Inquiry into the migration treatment of disability: submission called for by 28th October 2009

From the Parliament of Australia Joint Committee website:

Joint Standing Committee on Migration
The Joint Standing Committee on Migration conducts inquiries into matters referred to it by the Parliament or a Minister of the Commonwealth Government.

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator the Hon Chris Evans, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services, the Hon Bill Shorten, have asked the Committee to undertake an inquiry relating to the health requirement in the Migration Act.

Every year, millions of people apply to visit or migrate to Australia, and grant of a visa is conditional on a person satisfying the health requirement specified in the Migration Regulations. The health requirement is designed to protect Australia from public health risks, contain public expenditure on health and community services, and maintain access of Australian residents to those services.

Disability does not in itself mean that a person or a family will be refused a visa. However, as part of the health test, applicants with a ‘disease or condition’ are assessed on the potential cost and impact on Australian health and community services.

The Committee will investigate the assessment of the health and community costs associated with a disability as part of visa processing in Australia.

The Committee is now calling for submissions from interested individuals and organisations. The terms of reference for the inquiry and information about making a submission are available through the links below.

Following the submission period, the Committee may conduct visits to learn more or call for individuals or organisations to provide further evidence at public hearings or roundtables.

If you would like to keep informed of the progress of the inquiry, email jscm@aph.gov.au to request to be added to an electronic mailing list for all media releases associated with this inquiry.

Useful links

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s fact sheet on the health requirement is available here.

Submitters may wish to refer to Schedule 4 of the Migration Regulations 1994, which outlines the public interest criteria relating to health.

Terms of reference

Submissions

Public hearings

Media releases

Report

The Committee invites interested persons and organisations to make submissions addressing the terms of reference by Wednesday 28th October 2009