‘Regional’ visa pushed by Coalition MPs actually allows migrants to move to cities

Exclusive: Sussan Ley, Dan Tehan and Anne Ruston claim win for rural Australia over decision to speed up processing of 887 visa, but it lets holders choose where to live, including cities

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Liberal frontbenchers Sussan Ley, Dan Tehan and Anne Ruston publicly lobbied the government for priority processing of a particular type of visa on the grounds it would allow migrants to settle in regional areas - but in fact the visa allows applicants to settle permanently in cities.

For months the trio have complained that thousands of key workers, including in healthcare, were being unfairly denied prioritisation" of their skilled regional visas, effectively encouraging skilled workers to move to the city".

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