Australia’s Labor government announces major immigration changes that bar international students from bringing dependants or other family members and introduce stronger action against people who overstay their visas. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke is set to outline the measures in Canberra.
The plans also aim to reduce net overseas migration over the next several years. One outlined target reduces net overseas migration from 300,000 to 225,000 by 2028, while another reports the government targets 245,000 for the current financial year and 225,000 in 2027-28. The measures are framed as responses to housing and broader pressures linked to migration levels.
Both outlets describe the student component as preventing longer-term extensions that can result from allowing dependants and related family pathways. Alongside the student restrictions, the government also sets new enforcement steps for foreign nationals without valid visas, designed to push them to leave Australia rather than remain in the country. The announcements come as Labor faces political pressure from the far-right on immigration issues, according to one report.
