Australian Immigration News: New Migration Strategy Announced

 In a significant development in Australian immigration news, the government announced its long-awaited Migration Strategy on 11 December 2023. The strategy, led by Dr. Martin Parkinson, is being hailed as “the biggest reforms to migration in a generation.”

A Broken System

Dr. Parkinson’s review concluded that the migration system was “so badly broken” it would take a decade to restore. The reforms are expected to have a profound impact on the AUS$30 billion-per-year international education sector and will certainly affect the flow of foreign students into the country.

Impact on International Student Numbers

The government has not mandated a cap on international student numbers, which will come as a relief to education providers in the country. However, new policies will exert downward pressure on those numbers by making it more difficult for non-genuine students to obtain study and work visas and by raising the financial requirement for visa applicants by 17% to AUS$24,505.

“This Strategy is about building back integrity into the system, with Treasury forecasts showing that migration is expected to decline substantially over the next financial year,” - Minister for Home Affairs Clare O’Neil.

Rebuilding Australia’s Migration System

Underlying the reforms is a mission to rebuild Australia’s migration system so that it becomes “the nation-building engine it once was.” Over the past few years, the migration system has failed to “identify and attract those people who are best placed to help build the skills base of Australia’s workforce, boost exports and raise living standards.”

Curbing Current Migration Levels

The strategy is also quite clearly designed to curb current migration levels. As The Sydney Morning Herald observes, “Australia’s net migration will be halved within two years in a dramatic move to slash the annual intake from a record high of 510,000 by imposing tougher tests on overseas students and turning away workers with low skills.”

Improving Integrity of International Education

Of the eight “key actions” in the new Migration Strategy, the third is devoted to strengthening the integrity and quality of international education – a commitment targeted for completion by the end of 2024. The measures include:

• Increasing minimum English language requirements for student and graduate visas
• Applying additional scrutiny to high-risk student applications
• Cracking down on unscrupulous education providers
• Bolstering the student visa integrity unit in the Department of Home Affairs to reduce misuse of Australia’s student visa system
• Strengthening requirements for international education providers
• Restricting onshore visa hopping that undermines system integrity
• Strengthening and simplifying Temporary Graduate visas
• Ending settings that drive long-term temporary stays (known as ‘permanent temporariness’) including through: (i) shortening graduate visas; and (ii) ending settings that allow graduates to prolong their stay in Australia when they have fewer prospects of becoming permanent residents

Supporting many of these measures is the introduction of a Department of Home Affairs’ “student visa integrity unit,” which will receive initial funding of AUS$19 million.

“The Government’s Migration Strategy sends a clear message that we will act to prevent the exploitation of students and protect Australia’s reputation as a high-quality international education provider,” - Minister for Education Jason Clare.

In conclusion, the new Migration Strategy represents a significant shift in Australia’s approach to migration and international education. While the reforms may pose challenges for education providers and international students, they also offer an opportunity to enhance the integrity and quality of Australia’s international education sector. As the strategy unfolds, it will be crucial for all stakeholders to adapt and innovate in response to these changes.