{"id":"F2016L00777","name":"Designated Areas 2016/044","slug":"designated-areas-2016-044","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":129410,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2016L00777-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"DESIGNATED AREAS 2016/044","sectionType":"part","heading":"DESIGNATED AREAS 2016/044","content":"# DESIGNATED AREAS 2016/044\n\n(Regulation 1.03)\n\nI, PETER DUTTON Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, acting under regulation 1.03 of the Migration Regulations 1994 (the Regulations):\n\n1. REVOKE Instrument IMMI 12/021, Designated Areas, signed on 12 June 2012; and\n2. SPECIFY for the purposes of regulation 1.03 of the Regulations, the suburb or location postcode and the State or Territory area listed that is identifying that suburb or location as a defined designated area in the Schedule to this Instrument.\n\nThis Instrument, Designated Areas 2016/044, IMMI 16/044, commences on 1 July 2016.\n\nDated: 5 May 2016\n\nPeter Dutton\n\nTHE HON PETER DUTTON MP\n\nMinister for Immigration and Border Protection","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"SCHEDULE","sectionType":"subdivision","heading":"SCHEDULE","content":"#### \nSCHEDULE\n\n```html\n

DESIGNATED AREAS

POSTCODES INCLUSIVE

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

Entire Territory

NEW SOUTH WALES

(Excluding Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong)

2311 to 2312

2328 to 2333

2336 to 2490

2535 to 2551

2575 to 2739

2787 to 2898

NORFOLK ISLAND

Entire Territory

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Entire Territory

QUEENSLAND

(Excluding the Brisbane metropolitan area)

4019 to 4028

4037 to 4050

4079 to 4100

4114

4118

4124 to 4150

4158 to 4168

4180 to 4899

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Entire State

TASMANIA

Entire State

VICTORIA

Entire State

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Entire State

\n```","sortOrder":1}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument maintains the same scope as its predecessor — it is purely an update to the geographical list of designated areas. The policy intent (directing migration to regional areas by excluding major metropolitan centres) remains unchanged from the 2012 instrument it replaces."},"complexity_factors":["Single operational purpose: revoking one instrument and specifying a replacement list","No defined terms section — relies on external definitions in the Migration Regulations 1994","Straightforward tabular format with postcode ranges","No conditional logic, exceptions, or cross-references beyond the single regulation citation (regulation 1.03)","Minimal procedural text — essentially a ministerial signature and commencement date"],"plain_english_summary":"This ministerial instrument revokes the 2012 designated‑areas list and replaces it with a new list of postcodes and whole states/territories for immigration purposes. It designates entire jurisdictions (ACT, Norfolk Island, NT, SA, TAS, VIC, WA) while only certain postcodes in NSW and Queensland are included, deliberately excluding major metro areas.\n\nIt affects migrants, visa applicants and employers seeking to sponsor workers — qualifying locations can make certain regional visas easier or faster."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This instrument explicitly revokes Instrument IMMI 12/021 and substitutes a new specification of designated areas by postcode and jurisdiction. Mechanically, it replaces the previous list and thereby changes which locations fall within the scope of regulation 1.03; it takes effect 1 July 2016 (instrument clauses 1–2 and commencement statement)."},"complexity_factors":["Legal mechanism is administrative: revokes IMMI 12/021 and substitutes a new list under reg 1.03 of the Migration Regulations 1994 (instrument text, opening lines).","Large schedule of postcode ranges and whole-State/territory inclusions increases operational detail (see Schedule table).","Geographic carve-outs add interpretive steps (e.g. NSW excluding Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong; Queensland excluding Brisbane metropolitan area).","Decision-maker and authority are concentrated: instrument issued by the Minister under regulation 1.03 (instrument signed by Peter Dutton).","Commencement date is specified (1 July 2016), requiring administrative update and transitional handling.","Potential for ambiguity in applying postcode ranges at local boundary edges — administrative rather than legislative complexity.","Low conceptual legal complexity (lists, not novel legal tests) but moderate operational burden for affected applicants and officials to map addresses to the schedule."],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument revokes a prior Designated Areas instrument and replaces it by listing which suburbs, postcode ranges and whole States/Territories count as ‘designated areas’ for the purposes of regulation 1.03 of the Migration Regulations 1994. It commences on 1 July 2016.\n\nIt affects people and organisations whose rights or obligations depend on regulation 1.03 (for example visa applicants, sponsors, employers and officials) by moving specific postcodes and jurisdictions into or out of the designated-area category, thereby changing eligibility and compliance requirements."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/designated-areas-2016-044","history":"/api/acts/designated-areas-2016-044/history","analysis":"/api/acts/designated-areas-2016-044/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/designated-areas-2016-044/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/designated-areas-2016-044/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/designated-areas-2016-044/documents"}}