In a move to crack down on the sponsors of family visa holders, legislation introduced to parliament this week states that sponsors will be scrutinised before visas are issued and those who don’t properly assist new arrivals will be punished. The federal government says it hopes the new move would fix shortcomings in the process by requiring sponsors to be assessed and imposing penalties for breaches of obligations. While sponsors had to promise to support the people they were sponsoring for two years, there were no consequences if they reneged.
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said little focus on character had led to people with a violent history, including against family members, being able to sponsor people.
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