Qantas Issues Flexible Rebooking Policy After Middle-East Airspace Closure (Tickets Issued ≤ 1 March 2026)
Canberra Confirms 115,000 Australians Stranded in Middle East as Flights Halt (1 March 2026)
Application fee for Australia’s Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) visa doubles overnight
Latest News
DFAT raises Kuwait travel advice to ‘Do Not Travel’ following Middle-East escalation
On 28 February 2026 DFAT escalated Kuwait’s travel advice to ‘Do Not Travel’, citing missile threats and airspace closure. Australian companies with personnel in Kuwait must now activate evacuation and duty-of-care plans, while travel and cargo routes through the Gulf face major disruption.
Pacific Engagement Visa: Penny Wong tells Samoa quota is ‘yours to set’
During a 28 February visit to Apia, Foreign Minister Penny Wong assured Samoa that participation and numbers under Australia’s new Pacific Engagement Visa are set by the islands themselves. The pledge gives Australian employers clarity on future Pacific labour supply while addressing regional concerns about workforce drain.
Fast-track legacy caseload falls below 3,000 as Refugee Council publishes February update
New data published 28 February 2026 shows Australia’s legacy fast-track asylum backlog has fallen below 3,000, with more than 18,000 former TPV holders already granted permanent Resolution of Status visas. The trend expands the available workforce but spotlights remaining processing delays.
Operation Epic Fury prompts Australian firms to reroute travel and review crisis plans
ABC News reports following Operation Epic Fury prompted Australia to issue broad Middle-East travel warnings on 28 February 2026. Businesses now face rerouted flights, potential insurance gaps and renewed duty-of-care obligations for staff travelling through Gulf hubs.