Australia Australia to reform 'broken' migration system, tightens student visas
Sydney: Australia Monday said that it will reform its "broken" migration system and tighten visa requirements for foreign students and low-skilled workers, reducing its immigration intake by half over the next two years.
International students would now need to score higher on English language exams, and their second visa application—which would allow them to remain longer—would be scrutinised more closely under the new regulations, according to Reuters.
"Our strategy will bring migration numbers back to normal," said Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil, according to reports.
"But it's not just about numbers. It's not just about this moment and the experience of migration our country is having at this time. This is about Australia's future."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese over the weekend said Australia's migration numbers needed to be wound back to a "sustainable level," adding that "the system is broken."
According to the report, O'Neil said that the government's focused changes are already causing net overseas migration to drop and will further contribute to the anticipated decline in the number of migrants.
The decision was made after it was anticipated that net immigration would peak in 2022–2023 at a record 510,000.
According to official data, it was predicted to decline to approximately a quarter of a million in 2024–2025 and 2025–2026, roughly matching pre-COVID levels.
International students, according to O'Neil, were primarily responsible for the growth in net foreign migration in 2022–2023, stated the report.
Australia increased its yearly migration figures last year to assist companies in hiring workers to cover staffing gaps during the COVID-19 pandemic, which imposed stringent border controls and prevented foreign workers and students from entering the country for almost two years.
However, with homelessness on the rise in the nation, the abrupt influx of foreign workers and students has put further strain on an already tight rental market.
Reuters, citing a Sydney Morning Herald study conducted on Monday, found that 62% of Australian voters thought that the nation's immigration intake was too high.
Australia's Labour government, which has long relied on immigration to fill one of the world's most competitive labour markets, is pushing to expedite the entry of highly skilled immigrants and expedite their road to permanent residency.
With a one-week processing time, a new specialty visa for highly talented individuals will be established, assisting firms in attracting top talent amidst fierce competition from other developed economies.
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