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Australia announced new restrictions on student and backpacker visas to reduce migration levels, which have been a focus of political debate. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the changes will cap annual net migration at around 225,000 by 2028, down from about 300,000 currently. The measures include preventing international students from bringing partners and children to Australia, introducing a ballot system for backpackers seeking to extend their visas, and tightening rules for student visa renewals. These reforms aim to address voter concerns over cost of living and immigration despite the significant economic contribution of international education, worth A$53.6 billion in 2025.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-18,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke unveiled sweeping changes to Australia's migration system on Thursday, April 6, at the National Press Club in Canberra, aimed at reducing net overseas migration to 245,000 by 2026-27 and further decreasing it to 225,000 by 2027-28. The proposed overhaul targets international students and temporary migrants seeking to bring family members or switch visas. These changes include stricter regulations for student and graduate visas, preventing automatic family member inclusions except for PhD students, as well as implementing a ballot system for backpacker working holiday visas. Burke defended the measures, arguing that drastic cuts could harm Australia's economy, emphasizing the importance of international students to various sectors beyond universities. The announcement follows weeks of internal Labor Party debates and comes amidst criticism from opposition parties like One Nation, which advocates for even stricter migration limits.
Written for “Australia Migration Crackdown” on 2026-09-18,
grounded in this article and the 24 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.
-
Amid growing debate over high migration levels.
right Implies concern about high migration, aligning with right-wing stance.
-
Despite this, foreign students have been a central focus of the centre-left Labor government's migration reduction efforts.
right Highlights left-leaning government's rightward shift on immigration.
Leaning score +0.45 for article 17448 (high confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-18
Australia will stop foreign students from bringing partners and children to accompany them while they study and tighten working holiday visa rules, a senior minister said on Thursday, amid growing debate over high migration levels.
asserted
minister → stop → levels
The government's move comes after the hard-right One Nation party, which has been surging in recent polls, said this week that it would slash the number of temporary migrants by 750,000 over three years, to give Australians "breathing space."
asserted
it → come → space
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke dismissed suggestions the changes were politically motivated by the One Nation party, which describes its approach as "Australia first" and whose policies have drawn comparisons to those of U.S. President Donald Trump.
asserted
policies → dismiss → Trump
"It's simply demonstrably wrong to suspect that somehow this is a recent bit of work done to deal with a political climate - it's not," Burke told reporters.
asserted
Burke → suspect → reporters
The reforms are expected to bring annual net migration down to about 225,000 by 2028 - broadly in line with pre-pandemic levels - from around 300,000 now.
asserted
reforms → expect → 300,000
The cost of living and immigration have consistently ranked among voters' top concerns in recent polls.
asserted
cost → rank → polls
Ballot for backpackersUnder the new measures, a ballot system will be introduced for backpackers seeking to extend their working holiday visas.
asserted
system → introduce → visas
All visitor visas will carry a "no further stay" provision preventing holders from remaining in Australia while applying for another visa category such as a partner visa.
asserted
visas → carry → visa
International students will only be permitted to renew their student visas if they move up the qualification scale.
asserted
they → permit → scale
Some students from Pacific Island nations and Southeast Asia will be able to bring their partners and children, but secondary applicants will not be allowed on most student visas.
asserted
applicants → bring → visas
Spouses and partners of international students can currently work in Australia, although the number of hours they are permitted varies depending on the course of study.
asserted
they → work → study
International education contributed A$53.6 billion ($38 billion) to the Australian economy in the year to June 2025, making it the country's fourth-largest export.
asserted
it → contribute → June
Student visa application fees have risen by nearly 300% to A$2,500 over the past four years, while English-language requirements and minimum savings thresholds for graduate visa applicants have also been tightened.
asserted
requirements → rise → applicants
Migration surged after Australia reopened its borders in February 2022 following nearly two years of COVID-19 closures, driven largely by international students, backpackers and temporary workers.
However, numbers have been declining over the past two years.
asserted
numbers → surge → years
Net overseas migration stood at 306,000 in the year to June 30, 2025, with international students accounting for more than half, down from a peak of 518,000 in 2023.
asserted
students → stand → 2023
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