asked the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, upon notice, on 22 August 2011:

Can details be provided of who has applied for a visa to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to be held in Perth in October 2011 as part of the delegation from Sri Lanka.

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:

Privacy legislation prevents the release of any information pertaining to visa applications made by individuals unless the person to whom the information refers gives permission.

All applicants for visas for Australia must satisfy criteria specific to the type of visa applied for. Criteria are set in legislation, and if an applicant meets the criteria, by law they must be granted a visa. If they fail to meet the criteria, then by law they cannot be granted a visa.