The Aporia · Australia cracks down on student and backpacker visas to curb migration

Australia cracks down on student and backpacker visas to curb migration

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Reuters. (2026, September 18). Australia cracks down on student and backpacker visas to curb migration. Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/australia-cracks-down-on-student-and-backpacker-visas-to-curb-migration/articleshow/134323247.cms

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Quick Summary

Australia announced new restrictions on student and backpacker visas to reduce migration levels, which have been a focus of political debate. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the changes will cap annual net migration at around 225,000 by 2028, down from about 300,000 currently. The measures include preventing international students from bringing partners and children to Australia, introducing a ballot system for backpackers seeking to extend their visas, and tightening rules for student visa renewals. These reforms aim to address voter concerns over cost of living and immigration despite the significant economic contribution of international education, worth A$53.6 billion in 2025.

Written by AI on 2026-09-18, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

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.

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0 of 15 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

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59/100

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Times of India · 3890 article(s) · 2 correction(s) detected

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Topics

Australia Australians Home Affairs One Nation SYDNEY

Subjects

Australia GPE · 5× One Nation ORG · 2× Australian NORP · 1× Australians NORP · 1× Burke PERSON · 1× Donald Trump PERSON · 1× Home Affairs ORG · 1× SYDNEY GPE · 1× Tony Burke PERSON · 1× U.S. GPE · 1×

Narrative

Migration surged after Australia reopened its borders in February 2022 following nearly two years of COVID-19 closures, driven largely by international students, backpackers and temporary workers. However, numbers have been declining over the past two years.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-18

🔮 Australia will stop foreign students from bringing partners and children to accompany them while they study and tighten working holiday visa rules, a senior minister said on Thursday, amid growing debate over high migration levels.

2026-09-18 · Times of India

Australia cracks down on student and backpacker visas to curb migration · assertive framing

Claims (15 extracted, 0 hedged)

Australia will stop foreign students from bringing partners and children to accompany them while they study and tighten working holiday visa rules, a senior minister said on Thursday, amid growing debate over high migration levels. asserted

minister → stop → 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, to give Australians "breathing space." asserted

it → come → space

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke dismissed suggestions the changes were politically motivated by the One Nation party, which describes its approach as "Australia first" and whose policies have drawn comparisons to those of U.S. President Donald Trump. asserted

policies → dismiss → Trump

"It's simply demonstrably wrong to suspect that somehow this is a recent bit of work done to deal with a political climate - it's not," Burke told reporters. asserted

Burke → suspect → reporters

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. asserted

reforms → expect → 300,000

The cost of living and immigration have consistently ranked among voters' top concerns in recent polls. asserted

cost → rank → polls

Ballot for backpackersUnder the new measures, a ballot system will be introduced for backpackers seeking to extend their working holiday visas. asserted

system → introduce → 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. asserted

visas → carry → visa

International students will only be permitted to renew their student visas if they move up the qualification scale. asserted

they → permit → scale

Some students from Pacific Island nations and Southeast Asia will be able to bring their partners and children, but secondary applicants will not be allowed on most student visas. asserted

applicants → bring → visas

Spouses and partners of international students can currently work in Australia, although the number of hours they are permitted varies depending on the course of study. asserted

they → work → study

International education contributed A$53.6 billion ($38 billion) to the Australian economy in the year to June 2025, making it the country's fourth-largest export. asserted

it → contribute → June

Student visa application fees have risen by nearly 300% to A$2,500 over the past four years, while English-language requirements and minimum savings thresholds for graduate visa applicants have also been tightened. asserted

requirements → rise → applicants

numbers → surge → years

Net overseas migration stood at 306,000 in the year to June 30, 2025, with international students accounting for more than half, down from a peak of 518,000 in 2023. asserted

students → stand → 2023