Australia moves to cut immigration with stricter student and working-holiday visa rules

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced tighter visa rules for international students, working-holiday makers and overstayers, citing housing pressure, as new data showed net migration at 292,000.

• Burke said pressure on the housing sector calls for change, while affirming migration remains a "strength" for Australia.
• Students will no longer automatically bring family members, and migrants with construction and housing skills will get visa priority, Burke announced.
• New Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showed population growth of 1.4% to 27.9 million in the year to March 2026.
• One Nation proposed cutting temporary migrant visas by 750,000 and capping net immigration at 130,000, which Burke rejected as risking "smashing parts of the Australian economy."
• Burke rejected farmers' claims that the migration changes will raise food prices, speaking at the National Press Club.
• The package speeds up backpacker visa processing but restricts working holidaymakers to a ballot for years two and three.