More than 120,000 offshore backpackers have already been granted visas in time for Christmas this year.
Backpackers wanting to come to Australia only need to wait a day for their visa application to be finalised.The Department of Immigration said it employed 400 staff to sift through the one million visa backlog in the system.
In a bid to improve working holidaymaker visa wait times , 120,000 applications have been approved for offshore backpackers in time for Christmas. The extension was supposed to expire on 31 December but will continue to be in force for another six months until 30 June 2023, to support Australian employers over the summer.Immigration Minister Andrew Giles said 400 additional staff were hired since June to process nearly a million visa applications, culling the backlog to 600,000 by the end of the year.
"This is a direct result of a Government that understands how important immigration is to ensuring certainty for individuals, families and businesses."report released by the Department of Immigration in JuneMr Giles said Labor hasn't "wasted a day" in what he describes as a "mess, waste and mismanagement" from the former government.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Fossil reveals last meal of a dinosaur that lived 120 million years agoGALLERY: Canadian scientists have announced the discovery of a fossil preserved with its last meal, a rare finding that sheds light on what the ancient ecosystem may have looked like. 9News
Read more »
‘Peace, happiness and everlasting light’: King Charles delivers his first Christmas messageKing Charles III has delivered his first Christmas message as the UK awakens to the first hours of Christmas Day. The King begins by making a touching tribute to his mother in an acknowledgement that, for many, this will be the first royal Christmas message not to be delivered by the late Queen. “While Christmas is, of course, a Christian celebration, the power of light overcoming darkness is celebrated across the boundaries of faith and belief,” King Charles said. “With all my heart, I wish each of you a Christmas of peace, happiness and everlasting light.”
Read more »
Teenager drowns at Victorian beach in Christmas Day tragedyThe 19-year-old was bodysurfing with two others when they encountered trouble in the water.
Read more »
Sydney toddler dies after hit by 4WD in Christmas Eve tragedyEmergency services attended the Dural property and found a two-year-old boy with critical injuries.
Read more »