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

As of 31 July, 25 Israelis and eight Palestinians held E-class bridging visas in subclass 50 and none in subclass 51, but more people on visitor visas are expected to be transferred to bridging visas while their eligibility for other visa types is assessed. Photograph: James Ross/AAP

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 been granted work rights, and to immediate family members who are also visa-holders.