Foreign students in Australia will face new restrictions on their ability to bring family members into the country. The federal government is moving to shift sections of its immigration system away from demand-driven settings.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke is scheduled to reveal the long-awaited changes on Thursday. These are expected to include measures to address visa overstays and to limit lengthy appeals processes for applicants.
The government's objective is to reduce net overseas migration (Nom) while aiming to minimise any negative impact on the economy. Burke stated, "We do need to get net overseas migration down."
Labor's plan involves tweaking policy settings to meet Nom forecasts, particularly as public support for One Nation has reportedly surged amid immigration debates. Last year, approximately 45,000 of the 337,000 international student visas issued were for dependents or family members. Under the proposed changes, most students would be required to arrive alone.
The government aims to reduce Nom from around 305,000 to approximately 225,000 over two years. This follows years of higher-than-expected arrivals, including from international students and working holidaymakers.