Australia’s center-left government is set to announce a plan on the 17th to reduce immigration numbers, including a crackdown on visa overstayers and restrictions preventing most student visa holders from bringing family members into the country. This marks another move by the Australian government to adjust immigration rules, following earlier restrictions on “Working Holiday Visas.”
According to Bloomberg, Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke is scheduled to deliver a speech at the National Press Club titled “Managing the Migration Program: Who Comes, Who Stays, and Who Leaves,” in which he will outline the relevant reforms.
According to a statement issued by Burke, the plan targets individuals seeking to extend their stay in Australia by switching from one visa category to another, as well as students, temporary workers, and their families. The government will also attach a “no further stay” condition to all incoming visas, aiming to ensure that visitor visas are used for genuine short-term stays rather than serving as a pathway for long-term residence in Australia.
Burke stated, “Almost everyone who comes to Australia is a welcome guest in our country. These reforms are designed to ensure our immigration system is better aligned with Australia’s current needs.”
The Australian government aims to limit net migration to approximately 245,000 for the current fiscal year—a target set in the May budget—and to further reduce it to 225,000 in the following fiscal year. In the past, Australia’s migration numbers have repeatedly exceeded government targets, drawing criticism from the political right.
Data released on Thursday morning, prior to Burke’s speech, showed that more than 292,000 people migrated permanently to Australia in the year ending March—a decline of nearly 6% compared to the previous 12 months.
The Australian government has slowed the issuance of new visas, including the “Working Holiday” visa popular among backpackers. The Department of Home Affairs website indicates that applications from the 23 countries subject to annual quotas are currently “paused” for the fiscal year that began in July.