Labor quietly extends work and Medicare rights to some visa-holders from Gaza and Israel

Rights granted to two subclasses of bridging visa E as part of additional assistance' to those affected by conflict

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The federal government has extended work rights and Medicare access to some visa-holders from Gaza and Israel as it prepares to shift those who arrived on visitor visas since the 7 October attacks on to bridging visas.

Without public announcement, the government issued a regulation on 5 August extending Medicare access to people holding two subclasses of bridging visa E who had already been granted work rights, and also to immediate family members who are also visa-holders.

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