A traumatised navy veteran has pleaded with the government to act on its promise to fix visa rules that force partners to travel abroad in the middle of a global pandemic, saying: “Let my husband stay with me in the country that I fought for.”
The previous immigration minister, Alan Tudge, promised in November to make “common sense” changes to some visa application requirements, including for partner visas, which compel applicants to travel abroad, stay offshore for three or more days, have their visa granted and then return to Australia.
The requirements were labelled “madness” by the opposition, and Tudge promised to exempt the offshore granting requirement. The new immigration minister, Alex Hawke, subsequently pledged to extend the exemptions to other visa categories, including parent visas.
The promises are yet to translate into action, however, and the government has been vague about when it will enact the changes, saying only that it will do so in the first quarter of 2021.
That has left Matthew Sales, his husband Hakim Awaluddin and many other partner-visa applicants in a state of limbo.
Sales served in the Australian navy for more than 12 years, deploying to Afghanistan, but was medically discharged with post-traumatic stress disorder.
His husband was in Australia on a tourist visa but is now on a bridging visa, and the pair fear that the partner-visa process may compel Awaluddin to travel abroad.
“I served this country for 12½ years, I almost gave my life because of it,” he said. “Now I’m a disabled veteran with PTSD, anxiety, depression, caused by this government, and I’ve never asked for something back, all I’ve done is give.
“Now I’m asking for one thing: let my husband stay with me in the country that I fought for.”
The government is assuring visa holders, including those on tourist visas, that they will not be made to travel abroad and will be given temporary extensions on their existing visas.
“Temporary visa options are available to ensure visa applicants adversely impacted by Covid-19 pandemic-related travel restrictions are able to remain lawfully in Australia during the Covid-19 period,” the Department of Home Affairs said in a statement last week.
“The department is aware that travel outside Australia is not feasible for most clients due to the Covid-19 pandemic and associated travel restrictions and is allowing visa applicants additional time to meet requirements for grant of the visa.”
But Sales said the financial stress of the current situation was hitting hard. The pair had already spent more than $20,000 on prior visa applications, legal fees and related flights, he said.
Awaluddin could not work due to his tourist visa and had no certainty about when that may change.
“Make a decision, someone put your name to something and actually do it,” Sales said.
Labor MP Julian Hill has repeatedly called on the government to tell visa applicants when it will make the changes, saying the delay is unforgivable and the lack of certainty “appalling”.
“Families are literally going broke as there are no work rights until the visas are granted,” Hill said. “They’re unable to buy property, some are forced to pay tens of thousands of dollars in international students fees for their children, and the fear and the anxiety is overwhelming for so many.”
Hill is preparing to introduce a private member’s bill next week that would change the migration act and end the offshore granting requirement for all visa categories for the duration of the pandemic.
“Labor is on the side of families and sorting out the partner-visa mess,” he said. “The government could fix this on Monday by voting for my private member’s bill, or at the very least, name the date – please spare us yet another rubbish announcement.”
