Australia's Coalition has unveiled a migration plan that includes drastic cuts to net overseas migration and the abolition of temporary graduate visas. Announced by Angus Taylor on Tuesday, the plan aims to reduce net overseas migration to 100,000 for the first two years of a Coalition government, rising to 160,000 by year four. This would see temporary graduate visas slashed from 271,200 to 10,000 by 2031-32.
Critics, including Phil Honeywood, chief executive of the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA), warn that these changes risk breaching Australia's free trade agreement with India. A letter from April 2022, signed by then Liberal trade minister Dan Tehan, committed Australia to maintaining opportunities for former students from India to live, study, and work temporarily after their studies, for periods ranging from 18 months to four years depending on their qualification.
The shadow home affairs minister, Jonno Duniam, stated that the abolition of temporary graduate visas is intended to refocus on skills needed in Australia, rather than pathways to permanency or citizenship. However, Universities Australia's chief executive, Luke Sheehy, said the changes could cause "lasting damage" to the higher education sector and the economy, making Australia less competitive for talented students.
A Coalition spokesperson maintained there would be no treaty breach, stating that treaty commitments are to provide temporary visa pathways for short periods, and the specific visas provided are at Australia's discretion. They added that if in government, they would work with international partners on new visa pathways, including skilled ones.