Australia: Australia will stop foreign students from bringing partners and children to accompany them while they study and tighten working holiday visa rules, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said on Thursday (September 17), amid growing debate over high migration levels.
The government's move comes after the hard-right One Nation party, which has been surging in recent polls, said this week that it would slash the number of temporary migrants by 750,000 over three years. Burke dismissed suggestions that the changes were politically motivated by the One Nation party.
The reforms are expected to bring annual net migration down to about 225,000 by 2028, broadly in line with pre-pandemic levels, from around 300,000 now. The cost of living and immigration have consistently ranked among voters' top concerns in recent polls.
Under the new measures, a ballot system will be introduced for backpackers seeking to extend their working holiday visas. All visitor visas will carry a "no further stay" provision preventing holders from remaining in Australia while applying for another visa category, such as a partner visa.
International students will only be permitted to renew their student visas if they move up the qualification scale.
