Source : Perth Now news
WHAT MIGRATION CHANGES WILL BE ANNOUNCED?
* New strategies to help bring net overseas migration down from about 300,000 people in 2025 to 245,000 in 2026/27 and 225,000 people per year thereafter are expected to be announced by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke at the National Press Club on Thursday
* Reports suggest the overhaul will eliminate students’ ability to bring family members to Australia and restrict the work rights of those on bridging visas, but no details have been confirmed; AAP has contacted Mr Burke’s office for comment
* A plan to attract better-educated, higher-skilled and younger migrants, outlined in May’s federal budget, is also expected to be hashed out
* Mr Burke was originally supposed to announce policy changes on August 4, but cancelled his speech at the last minute over cabinet disagreements
WHAT IS THE SYSTEM LIKE NOW?
* Australia’s population growth due to migration, called net overseas migration, has consistently exceeded Labor’s forecasts since it came to power in 2022
* Under heavy political pressure, the government has slammed the brakes on working holiday visas and started prioritising applications from onshore migrants
* But migrants can still game the system by appealing visa decisions via the Administrative Reviews Tribunal, which can take up to eight years, while living and working in Australian on bridging visas, critics argue
* Businesses, farmers and the health sector have long complained about staff shortages due to poorly calibrated skilled migration pathways accompanied by underinvestment in training Australians and poor workforce planning
* They have strongly cautioned politicians against chasing a desired lower net overseas migration figure without considering economic impacts
WHERE DO THE OTHER PARTIES STAND?
* The opposition wants net overseas migration to fall to about 170,000 a year, in line with housing construction
* Negotiations between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Angus Taylor stalled in the week to September 11, meaning Labor’s changes will probably be limited to measures that do not need to pass parliament
* One Nation on Monday unveiled its own migration plan, which would temporarily turn Australia’s migration intake negative before settling it at 130,000 a year
* Industry leaders and politicians said One Nation’s proposal would run a “wrecking ball” through the economy, exacerbate workforce shortages and cause a recession
