Ministerial Submission MS23-002185 - Facilitation Of Grant Funding For Specialist Legal Assistance For Protection Visa Applicants, Signed 31 October 2023 ​

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The Department of Home Affairs sought ministerial approval to establish legislative authority for a $12.3 million grant program providing specialist legal assistance to Protection visa (subclass 866) applicants during primary processing and community outreach. This funding formed part of a broader $160 million package announced in October 2023 to restore integrity to the permanent Protection visa system. The grants, to be distributed over two years beginning early 2024, would use a closed non-competitive selection process targeting existing specialist legal providers already delivering assistance to Afghan and Resolution of Status visa applicants. Proposed recipients included organizations such as Refugee Legal (Victoria), Refugee Advice and Casework Service (NSW), and Legal Aid ACT, selected to maintain continuity with providers who had established government and community trust while demonstrating expertise in asylum caseload support.