The Australian government has lifted a restriction that prevents asylum seekers who arrived by boat from bringing family members to the country. 
Immigration Minister Andrew Giles recently announced the Labor government had replaced several directions on immigration policy that put reunion application visas by boat refugees under the lowest priority in processing. 
The former Coalition government adopted those directions as a deterrent measure to prevent asylum seekers from coming to Australia by boat. 
The change is expected to affect the visa applications of thousands of family members of boat refugees who are looking to come to Australia, with those from countries such as Iran, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka most impacted. …