Video summary

What's the government proposing on migration? | ABC NEWS

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News and Commentary

Overview

Australia’s government has announced further migration reforms aimed at reducing net overseas migration, with a particular focus on temporary visa categories and limiting “visa hopping.”

Key Proposed Visa Changes

Visitor visas (tourist visas)

  • People coming on visitor visas will be restricted with conditions that prevent applying for another visa while in Australia (a “no further stay” requirement).
  • They would need to leave after their visitor period ends.

Student visas

  • Reducing “visa hopping”: Future student visa holders would be permitted to remain only if they advance their studies (e.g., moving from a bachelor’s degree to a master’s/honours).
  • Removing family dependents: Family dependents will be removed from the migration program for future international students under the planned changes (secondary dependent/family visas).
    • The subtitles cite about 300,000 student visas granted last year, with ~50,000 involving families.

Backpacker / Working Holiday Maker visas

  • The government will cap second- and third-year extensions that currently depend on completing regional work.
  • The proposal cited includes:
    • 45,000 second-year visas
    • 5,000 third-year visas
  • The aim is to reduce numbers and curb demand-driven growth.

Net Migration Target and Political Context

  • The changes are intended to help Labor meet a stated target of reducing net overseas migration from about 292,000 (latest estimate) toward 225,000 by 2028.
  • In remarks highlighted in the subtitles, Minister Tony Burke suggested the reforms are not as comprehensive as he wanted:
    • Implementing additional levers would require legislation, which he indicated is unlikely in the current political circumstances.

Ensuring Temporary Visa Holders Leave

  • The government argues some temporary visa holders are gaming the system through protection/asylum claims.
    • The subtitles state 80–90% of those claims are rejected.
  • Burke’s approach described is to tighten compliance for overstayers.
    • The subtitles cite 77,000 visa overstayers currently in Australia.

Proposed enforcement approach

  • A shift back toward a pre-2015-style model, including:
    • Placing overstayers into immigration detention
    • Increasing compliance resources (more compliance officers and additional beds)
    • Arranging departures by booking flights home
  • The subtitles emphasize it is not intended to resemble overseas “raid”-style tactics.

Backtracking Earlier Changes

The subtitles also note that earlier reforms announced in July were partially walked back after backlash, especially from regional communities and tourism/hospitality sectors:

  • Backpacker processing: Processing of backpacker visas from some countries that was previously paused would return to normal.
  • Skilled visa processing prioritization: Certain key sectors would be prioritized whether applications are lodged onshore or offshore, including:
    • Agriculture and fisheries
    • Other roles such as doctors/nurses/teachers and construction workers
  • The change is intended to prevent skilled applicants from being pushed behind others.

Presenters / Contributors

  • Jane Norman (National Affairs Correspondent)
  • Tony Burke (Minister referenced in the subtitles)

Original video