Government finally roll outs migration policy

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke unveiled major changes to Australia's migration system in a speech on Thursday at the National Press Club in Canberra, aiming to reduce net overseas migration from 309,500 in 2021-22 to 245,000 by 2026-27 and further to 225,000 by 2027-28. The overhaul targets temporary visas, making it harder for international students to bring family members or switch between visa types, while also introducing a ballot system for backpacker visas and prioritizing construction workers. Despite criticism from the Coalition and One Nation over potential negative impacts on economic growth, Burke argued that stronger regulations are necessary to manage migration effectively without causing harm to Australia's economy. The Bureau of Statistics released updated migration data on the same day, showing net migration falling slightly but still above Labor’s target.