This is taken directly from the Department of Immigration

Bridging Visas

There are five classes of bridging visas - they are used to make 'non-citizens' lawful who otherwise would be unlawful in the following situations:

• during the processing of an application, made in Australia, for a substantive visa (any visa which is not a bridging visa or criminal justice visa), including merits review of a decision to refuse such an application
• while arrangements are made to leave Australia
• at other times when the 'non-citizen' does not have a visa (for example, when seeking judicial review) and it is not necessary for the person to be kept in immigration detention.

In Short Bridging visas are purposely designed to give 'illegal' immigrants’ rights under Australian Law. This was Introduced by former ALP Primeminster Kevin Rudd. We the signees of this petition, Want 'illegal' immigration properly defined. So illegal immigrants are not entitled to the Australian legal System and are given the same rights as the 'Tax Payers'.

In no way shape or form should Illegal arrivals be given the same attention as Australian Tax payers of any nationality, faith or creed. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />