The Premier of Tasmania announced this week that the state will be providing up to $3 million support to the estimated 26,000 temporary visa holders in the Apple Isle if they are in genuine financial hardship.

Tasmania was one of the first states to effectively shut its borders to the rest of the world, prohibiting non-essential travellers from entering, with other states following suit. This measure to protect its own people turned out to help contain a coronavirus outbreak a couple of weeks ago.

In recognition of the contribution temporary visa holders play in supporting the Tasmanian economy, the government will extend their Pandemic Isolation Assistance Grants to overseas nationals should they be in financial hardship. If they qualify, they will receive $250 per individual or up to $1000 per family. They cite low income international tourists as an example.

This somewhat runs counter to the policies of the Federal Government who have encouraged any overseas national, especially international visitors, who cannot support themselves in Australia to depart as soon as practical.

The Federal Government decided against financially assisting temporary visa holders except for New Zealand citizens in Australia who hold a Subclass 444 – Special Category visa. They have instead focussed on assisting industries in critical sectors to keep overseas nationals in Australia working by creating a pathway for those whose visas are expiring and cannot meet any other visa criteria to apply for a Subclass 408 – Temporary Activity visa under the Australian Government endorsed event stream, and allowing supermarket and aged care businesses, and organisations that employ nurses to register so their existing international student employees can work in excess of 40 hours per fortnight should this condition apply. They have also relaxed their policies to allow employer sponsored temporary workers to work part-time as otherwise this would be in breach of their sponsor obligations.

While other measures may indirectly benefit temporary visa holders in Australia such as business tax breaks, Tasmania is likely the first state to directly provide financial assistance to temporary visa holders.