Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2018N00054:body:0:p2
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2018N00054
Segment Type: other
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Character Range: 2647–4502

on 13 August 2012 and the Government endorsed, in principle, all of its recommendations. Recommendation 1 identified principles which should shape policy making on asylum seeker issues, including the application of a 'no advantage' principle to ensure that no benefit is gained through circumventing regular migration arrangements.

The then Minister for Immigration and Citizenship determined that the 'no advantage' principle would be applied to people arriving in Australia by boat after 13 August 2012 and who could be sent to Nauru or Manus but who will remain in Australia for logistical, capacity or other reasons. These persons will be issued a Bridging E visa with visa condition 8101 attached (i.e. the holder must not engage in work in Australia). The Department of Immigration and Border Protection has requested that they have Medicare access and this continues to be the case taking into account the removal of the term 'offshore entry person' from the Act and the substitution of the term 'unauthorised maritime arrival'.

The continuation of Medicare eligibility to this cohort supports the whole-of-government approach to dealing with the legacy caseload of illegal maritime arrivals, specifically by extending health care to those whose protection claims are processed while they are in the Australian community.

Medicare eligibility (excluding compensable patients) confers access to no cost health and hospital services through the public hospital system under the National Health Reform Agreement, Medicare benefits for out-of-hospital services, and drugs under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

   Note: The name of this instrument was amended on registration as the instrument as lodged did not have a unique name (see subsection 10(2), Legislation Rule 2016).