Australia’s Labor government is set to make major changes to the country’s immigration system, imposing tighter restrictions on international students bringing family or dependent members into the country, The Guardian reports. The move is aimed at managing growing migration pressure and reducing the net migration rate.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke will lay out the details of the new policy at the National Press Club in Canberra. The plan involves moving away from a demand-driven immigration policy toward a system where the government directly sets quotas, allowing strict control over the numbers entering and leaving the country. The government’s goal is to bring net migration down from around 305,000 currently to 225,000 within the next two years.
Last year, the country issued around 337,000 international student visas, but a large share of that figure was for family members. Under the new rules, most students will be required to come to Australia alone. Alongside this, the government is moving to close the option of switching visa categories after a visa expires, and to limit illegal or prolonged appeal processes.
However, universities and business organisations have expressed concern that the tighter rules could create a shortage of skilled workers across the economy and various sectors.