Morrison Government set to overhaul visa system so more migrants settle in regional areas

A plan to require more migrants to live in regional areas before they get permanent residency looks set to be introduced by the Morrison Government.

A plan to require more migrants to live in regional areas before they get permanent residency looks set to be introduced by the Morrison Government.

It’s understood the government is finalising reforms to put downward pressure on population growth by ensuring new arrivals meet their residency obligations.

The major policy shift was flagged last year, with the government concerned about rising congestion given 87 per cent of all skilled migrants go to Melbourne and Sydney.

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Immigration-fuelled rapid population growth is putting pressure on cities like Melbourne. Picture: Eugene Hyland

Existing regional visa programs comprise over a quarter of the migrant intake, but many of those granted permanent residency do not settle in regional areas under the programs previously introduced by Labor governments.

The Department of Home Affairs has been consulting to fix the anomaly to ensure migrants stay in certain areas for a number of years under provisional visas before getting permanent settlement.

The plan, which also aims to improve overall migrant quality, is set to be a key election issue with opinion polls consistently showing a majority of Australian voters believe that immigration is too high.

Minister Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population Alan Tudge.

In a major speech late last year, Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population Minister Alan Tudge said worsening urban congestion was the biggest challenge posed by rising population growth.

Mr Tudge said that ensuring more migrants went to the regions and smaller states would help take pressure off big cities.

But Labor has questioned whether migrants can be forced to stay in regions for years.

“I’m not actually sure there is power to put that into place, to actually mandate that they do live there,” said opposition immigration spokesman Richard Marles at the time.

Immigration has transformed suburbs like Box Hill in recent years.

The government is also likely to highlight that its policies have seen the permanent intake come in at about 160,000 — 30,000 below the annual cap.

This is expected to fall even further this year, perhaps by many thousands.

And tough reforms by Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton saw the abolition of the controversial 457 work visa and introduction of new processes that make it much harder to import temporary skilled workers.

Demographer Dr Bob Birrell says immigration could become a key election issue.

Australian Population Research Institute president Dr Bob Birrell said the government was in political trouble, but a strong campaign on immigration could give it a chance.

Dr Birrell said recent polls showed that up to 47 per cent of Labor voters wanted migration cut, and 74 per cent thought Australia didn’t need more people.

“Labor is a party of continuing high migration, and they have stated that they will increase the level further with a larger humanitarian program,” he said.

Dr Birrell said the survey results indicated the ALP was vulnerable on migration if the coalition took a firm stand.

@JMasanauskas