Australia Announces Humanitarian Visa For Ukrainians

Canberra, March 20 : The Australian government on Sunday announced new humanitarian visa scheme for Ukrainian temporary visa holders currently in Australia and those arriving in coming months. CNN quoted Minister of Immigration Alex Hawke as saying that the visa scheme will allow people to work and access government support including Medicare for three years. The government said that it will work alongside the Ukrainian-Australian community to ensure appropriate permanent visa options are made available to this cohort “at an appropriate time.” Since February 23, Australia has granted around 5,000 mostly temporary visas to Ukrainians. Around 750 people have arrived in the country. The Australian government has also slammed Putin’s invasion into Ukraine as it is a “wholesale breach of international law (and) a completely unprovoked and unjustified attack on its neighbour”.