This information has just been received from DIBP …
“…Due to the resourcing restrictions, average processing times for most Temporary Partner and Permanent applications are currently between 16-23 months from date of lodgement (s/c 820) and from date of eligibility (s/c 801/100).
The processing times are updated regularly on the DIBP website and we encourage you to check the following link:
http://www.border.gov.au/about/access-accountability/service-
standards/global-visa-citizenship-processing-times.
As we move into the final quarter of the programme year and focus our efforts intensively on meeting the annual target by 30 June, we will be giving priority to low-risk applicants and those regarded by DIBP as fully front-end loaded with documentation that immediately satisfies Partner criteria.
This will result in a departure from our usual chronological method of assessing applicants by month of lodgement. Therefore, you may find that some of your clients receive decisions ahead of others who lodged many months prior.
This triaging approach has been endorsed by the Executive as an efficiency measure to identify Partner applications which are potentially of the highest quality and lowest risk for
visa places this programme year…”