* The current pipeline of people who have lodged GSM applications which may take 2-3 years or more to process is something in the order of 130,000. Cap and ceasing 20,000 of these applicants only addresses a very small part of the problem
* Many of the applicants who have not been granted have been requested for health and police checks by DIAC. The applicants would have, at significant expense, undertaken these checks on the understanding that their applications would soon be finalised. In addition, DIAC staff have completed 90% or more of the processing required for such applications, including assessing that the applicant has a passing score, and this effort would be wasted if the application is capped. Refunding their visa application fee covers some of the cost of the application, but this is only part of the cost.