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Immigration

Yesterday

 Student numbers are at around 786,000—close to pre-pandemic levels of around 756,000 in 2019.

Slashing foreign student numbers would be economic self-harm

Before the government puts the squeeze on Australia’s $48 billion university export industry, it should consider how much GDP it is prepared to sacrifice.

  • Bran Black

This Month

CLS Neville Roberts (centre), with sons (L-R) Tom (Central Queensland operations manager) and Adam Roberts (managing director).

‘Critical issue’: Queensland business calls for working visa tweak

Queensland will see its state-nominated permanent skilled migration allocation reduced from 900 to 600 spots and temporary visas reduced from 650 to 600.

  • James Hall
Immigration Minister Andrew Giles says the federal government wants to ensure more skilled migrants are going to the states that need them.

Queensland to cop skilled migrant cut amid boost to smaller states

Queensland will be the only Australian state to suffer a reduction in the number of skilled migrant allocations this financial year.

  • Tom Rabe
The University of Queensland’s chancellor has backed caps on international students.

Overseas students cap will protect integrity of universities: Varghese

While the university sector reels from a raft of measures designed to limit net migration, there is growing support for caps on overseas student numbers.

  • Julie Hare
The strong return of international students, backpackers and other temporary migrants following the pandemic pushed net overseas migration to record levels.

Foreign student visa fees doubled to highest in the world

Without warning, student visa application fees surged from $710 to $1600, in a move Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil said would ‘clean up’ the sector.

  • Julie Hare
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June

Western Australia will receive thousands more skilled migrants this financial year under a deal struck between the state and federal government.

‘Unique position’ secures WA thousands more skilled migrants

Perth property prices have soared amid unprecedented migration. Now WA Premier Roger Cook has landed a promise of thousands more migrants to build more homes.

  • Tom Rabe
Sydney university friends Chloe Linstrom, Gerard Buttigieg, and Rose Donnelly say students are spending more time working and less on campus amid growing cost of living pressures.

Online lectures at double speed: what uni is really like in 2024

Domestic students are being held back and international students aren’t getting what they need, says one expert. Universities know this. Why aren’t they doing more?

  • Gus McCubbing and Julie Hare
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil released the discussion paper for public comment.

Fast-track regional migration moves mooted

Labor has flagged abolishing occupation lists for immigrants looking to settle in regional areas.

  • Tom McIlroy
Syrian refugee Wissam Chabo eventually landed a permanent job at ANZ after working in jobs beneath his skill level for years.

Skilled refugees could unlock $9b in extra GDP

Maths graduate Wissam Chabo applied for 100 jobs before getting work in a local cafe. Research shows skilled migrants are badly underutilised, even during Australia’s skills shortage.

  • Euan Black
A house for sale in an area of Washington. First home buyers now account for just 30 per cent of purchases in the US, down from 50 per cent 10 years ago.

Australians aren’t alone in their housing pain

Affordability and supply have become big issues in the US as immigration and high interest rates further strain the market – a scenario all too familiar in Australia.

  • Matthew Cranston
Dr Abul Rizvi told the National Press Club that an entrance exam would ensure high quality international students.

Set an ATAR-style uni entrance score for foreign students: Rizvi

If international students had to get a minimum grade to win a place – as domestic applicants already have to – fewer would be able to rort the visa system.

  • Julie Hare
Donald Trump and Joe Biden will appear in two presidential debates in 2024

Trump, Biden switch election battle to capture middle America

Joe Biden and Donald Trump are starting to give some ground to catch the all-important voters in the centre who are still not convinced about either candidate.

  • Matthew Cranston
Graduating students should be assisted to find jobs better suited to the skill set.

Employee-starved businesses likely to bypass migrant caps: report

Businesses are likely to recruit workers from New Zealand and working holidaymakers, a major report says, avoiding moves by Labor and the Coalition to cut Australia’s permanent skilled migration intake.

  • Tom McIlroy and Julie Hare
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil says the government is “closing loopholes” to bring an end to long-term temporary migrants.

Migration finally turns a corner as reforms bite

Net migration hit a record high of 547,000 in 2023, but in the last three months of the year numbers started heading in the opposite direction.

  • Julie Hare
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil detailed a further tightening this week to limit visitors to Australia applying for student visas while here.

Why the government is desperate to cut immigration

There are many reasons for Australia’s inadequate housing supply, but a population jumping by 2.5 per cent a year obviously compounds the immediate problem.

  • Jennifer Hewett
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House and rental prices would fall by just 4 to 6 per cent over a decade under Peter Dutton’s migration plan.

House prices would barely fall under Dutton’s migration plan: Grattan

Peter Dutton’s plan to slash migration would have long-term economic consequences, but little bearing on house prices and rentals, says the Grattan Institute.

  • Julie Hare
Universities face cuts of between 60 per cent and 95 per cent of international student enrolments as the government and Coalition target “expendable” foreign students to bring down burgeoning migration numbers.

2000 jobs lost in foreign education sector the ‘tip of the iceberg’

The Albanese government’s migration cuts have triggered staff cutbacks at colleges and recruitment firms, and at least one university has imposed a hiring freeze.

  • Julie Hare
dutton

Dutton spruiks gas and nuclear to win back Victoria

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has used a speech in Melbourne to spruik gas and nuclear energy while attacking the teals, Daniel Andrews – and Sydney University.

  • Updated
  • Gus McCubbing
Immigration Minister Andrew Giles had revoked Direction 99.

Giles junks Direction 99, seeks end to immigration saga

The opposition says the changes to Ministerial Directive 99 do not go far enough and is vowing tougher action if elected.

  • Updated
  • Phillip Coorey
Peter Dutton says the Coalition has shown they’re a viable alternative to Labor.

More voters considering Coalition than 18 months ago: Dutton

The opposition leader has partly pinned the shift on Labor’s response to anti-Semitism; Immigration Minister Andrew Giles says a new ministerial direction on visas prioritises public safety. How the day unfolded.

  • Updated
  • Hannah Wootton

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/immigration-5yj