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The Sydney Morning Herald
· collected 2026-09-16 · by The Herald's View
The Herald launches a series examining Australia's evolving immigration policy since 2000, highlighting that over one million temporary visas were issued annually by 2023, with international students making up nearly half of these. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke is set to address the National Press Club on Thursday regarding proposed changes to the system, amid One Nation’s controversial plan to significantly cut migrant numbers and cap student visas at 100,000. The article argues that any policy shifts must be based on evidence rather than political rhetoric or public sentiment.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In an interview with Herald investigative reporter Eryk Bagshaw, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke warned that Australia could become a guest worker economy if drastic changes to immigration policies are implemented. This warning came ahead of the Parliament session where immigration was a major topic. Burke also criticized One Nation’s plan to reduce immigration by hundreds of thousands, stating it would lead to hospital closures and tourism collapse. The Herald is launching a series on immigration, highlighting how the number of temporary visas issued annually has surpassed 1 million, with more than 3 million temporary residents currently in Australia. International student visa issuance reached over 371,000 last year, marking an almost 30% increase from a decade ago but a drop from the post-COVID peak of 577,000 in 2022-23. Burke is expected to announce changes to Australia's immigration system at the National Press Club on Thursday.
Written for “Immigration Policy Debate” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
-
Immigration has become both divisive and corrosive and evolved into a pivotal moment for Australia.
right describes immigration negatively, suggesting it is harmful
-
Our series begins as the number of temporary visas issued passes 1 million annually and an underclass including skilled workers, international students and working holidaymakers tops 3 million.
right characterizes temporary visa holders as an 'underclass' without rights
-
In addition, more than 371,000 visas were issued to international students last year – almost a 30 per cent jump from a decade ago, but down from a post-COVID pandemic high of 577,000 in 2022-23.
right emphasizes the large number of visas issued without providing context
-
While there is no question there are people in Australia who share the prejudices about race, immigration and economic nationalism expressed by Pauline Hanson, there is no evidence this is a majority view, or anywhere near a majority view.
left dismisses concerns about immigration as not representative of public opinion
-
Such decisions cannot be driven by politics and the hot-headed emotions that have infiltrated public debate on immigration. They must be based on evidence and a sober assessment of the country’s needs and challenges.
left calls for evidence-based policy over emotional or political responses
Leaning score -0.45 for article 14418 (high confidence, 5 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-17
US President John Kennedy once described America as an immigrant nation.
asserted
Kennedy → describe → nation
It prompted a television late-night show gag that immigration was the sincerest form of flattery.
asserted
immigration → prompt → flattery
Some Australians, marooned in a changing world they no longer recognise, don’t think it is a joke.
asserted
it → maroon → world
Immigration has become both divisive and corrosive and evolved into a pivotal moment for Australia.
asserted
Immigration → become → Australia
The Herald today begins a series on immigration that traces how our changing national policy since the turn of the century has shaped our society and economics, creating great expectations for some and great disappointments for others.
asserted
policy → begin → others
Our series begins as the number of temporary visas issued passes 1 million annually and an underclass including skilled workers, international students and working holidaymakers tops 3 million.
asserted
underclass → begin → million
Astoundingly, they comprise more than 16 per cent of the working-age population, subsidising workplaces without the rights of permanent residents or citizens.
asserted
they → comprise → residents
In addition, more than 371,000 visas were issued to international students last year – almost a 30 per cent jump from a decade ago, but down from a post-COVID pandemic high of 577,000 in 2022-23.
asserted
visas → issue → 2022
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke is expected to announce changes to the immigration system at the National Press Club on Thursday.
asserted
Burke → expect → Thursday
In a wide-ranging interview with Herald investigative reporter Eryk Bagshaw, conducted before immigration dominated this week’s Parliament, Burke warned that Australia faces the possibility of turning into a guest worker economy.
He also issued a warning about One Nation’s immigration plan to cut hundreds of thousands of migrants, declaring hospitals would close and tourism collapse.
asserted
tourism → range → migrants
One Nation has proposed cutting 750,000 student and family visas and reducing Australia’s population for three years before returning to 130,000 a year.
asserted
Nation → propose → 130,000
An estimated 80,000 visa overstayers would be removed and international students and workers would be banned from extending their stay by rolling over bridging visas.
asserted
students → remove → visas
While there is no question there are people in Australia who share the prejudices about race, immigration and economic nationalism expressed by Pauline Hanson, there is no evidence this is a majority view, or anywhere near a majority view.
asserted
this → be → Hanson
That said, no party is defending the current immigration settings, and our cities are struggling to cope with the influx of temporary migrants fuelling the economy.
asserted
cities → say → economy
The way One Nation has played it has been so extreme that Hanson’s political opponents have been forced to catch up, playing with pretend numbers with no real indication of where limits lie or the impact of changing the policy.
asserted
limits → play → policy
Such decisions cannot be driven by politics and the hot-headed emotions that have infiltrated public debate on immigration.
asserted
that → drive → immigration
They must be based on evidence and a sober assessment of the country’s needs and challenges.
asserted
They → base → needs
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