Australia announced on Monday that it would tighten visa criteria for international students and low-skilled workers, potentially halving its migrant intake over the next two years, as the government seeks to reform a broken migration system.
The decision comes after net immigration was predicted to reach a record high of 510,000 in 2022-23.
According to official data, it was expected to drop to around a quarter of a million in 2024-25 and 2025-26, roughly in line with pre-COVID levels.
Ahead of the formal announcement of the government’s new migration policy, In a statement issued, Clare O’Neil, Home Affairs Minister, stated, “We’ve worked around the clock to strike the best balance in Australia’s migration system”.
“The government’s targeted reforms are already putting downward pressure on net overseas migration, and will further contribute to this expected decline”, O’Neil continued.
O’Neil went on to say that the increase in net overseas migration in 2022-23 will be primarily driven by international students.
Last year, Australia increased its yearly migration numbers to assist key businesses in recruiting staff to meet shortages caused by the COVID-19 epidemic, which tightened border restrictions and kept foreign students and workers out of the country for nearly two years.
Over the weekend, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that Australia’s migration level must be reduced to a sustainable level, adding that the system is broken.
Long relying on immigration to supply what is now one of the world’s tightest labor markets, Australia’s Labor government has pushed to speed up the entry of highly skilled individuals and simplify their road to permanent citizenship.
International students would need greater English test scores under the new criteria. It will also remove settings that permit students to stay in Australia longer.
A new specialist visa for highly talented workers will be established, with the processing time reduced to one week, to assist businesses in recruiting top migrants in the face of severe competition from other developed nations.
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