Australia to cut migration to fix housing crisis, says minister
The government will reduce migration by curbing 'visa hopping', tightening rules for students and working holiday makers, and cracking down on overstayers.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced Thursday that Australia will reduce net overseas migration to address housing shortages. Net migration, which was 47% below its post-Covid peak in 2022, is expected to fall to 225,000 next year. The government plans to curb visa hopping, tighten rules for students and working holiday makers, and crack down on overstayers.
Despite opposition from the far-right party One Nation, Burke maintains that immigration remains a strength for the country. Business groups warn that these changes could cause economic damage. The new rules include stricter family reunification policies and prioritizing migrants with construction and housing skills. Australia currently hosts over 27.6 million residents, of which a third were born overseas.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 2 other outlets
- Australia to cut migration to fix housing crisis, says minister freemalaysiatoday.com
- Australia to slash migration in bid to ease housing crisis malaymail.com
