What sort of visas are being offered?
Almost all of those who were allowed to come to Australia were granted visitor visas of three, six or 12 months, under which visa holders are not allowed to work, undertake study, access Medicare or other social support.
The rate at which Palestinians applying for visas to Australia were rejected was very high – with 7,111 visa applications rejected during this time.
Abul Rizvi, a former deputy secretary at the department of immigration, says this high refusal rate is likely because a condition of a visitor visa is that the trip is temporary, and that the government can be confident the person will leave Australia when the visa expires. In light of the current situation in Palestine, Rizvi says, that is “a difficult test to meet”.https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/aug/21/the-opposition-says-australias-approach-to-refugees-from-gaza-is-too-generous-who-is-actually-being-let-in
