On September 17, 2026, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke is expected to announce a new plan on managing Australia’s immigration program at the National Press Club in Canberra. This is a long-awaited plan. Previously, the government planned to announce the plan in August but the event was canceled at the last minute due to lack of consensus within the cabinet on the direction of the policy.
The government wants to reduce the number of immigrants
According to information published before the speech, the Australian government is expected to introduce measures to reduce the number of net migrants (Net Overseas Migration – NOM).
The target mentioned is:
- About 300,000 people in 2025
- Reduce to about 245,000 people in 2026–27
- The latter targets around 225,000 people per year
However, at the time of publication, the official details of the plan had not yet been fully confirmed.
International students may be one of the groups receiving attention
Information released before the speech shows that international students may be in the group affected by changes new.
Some of the contents mentioned include:
- Ability to regulate international students bringing family members to Australia.
- Consider restricting the right to work for some people holding a bridging visa (Bridging Visa).
- The government is also expected to provide direction to attract migrants with higher education levels, higher skills and younger ages.
This is especially noteworthy for international students and their families who are preparing plans to study in Australia, because changes related to Visa can directly affect the preparation of documents and plans to travel with relatives.
Why is Australia debating immigration?
One of the reasons why immigration has become a hot topic of debate recently is the pressure on housing and living costs.
Latest figures cited by SBS from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show that in the 2024–25 financial year, there were about:
- 568,400 people arriving in Australia
- 262,800 people leaving Australia
- Net migration is calculated to be about 305,600 people.
Notably, around 70% of net migration figures in 2024–25 will come from Temporary Visa holders. This group includes a large number of international students and people in Australia on Working Holiday.
That means if the government wants to reduce NOM, one of the ways that could be considered is to reduce the number of temporary residence visas issued.
Does cutting immigration mean solving the housing crisis?
This is still a matter of debate. Some experts say that reducing immigration could reduce some of the demand for housing, especially if the measures focus on international student groups. However, other experts note that reducing the number of immigrant workers in industries such as construction could have other effects on the housing market. According to experts interviewed by SBS, cutting immigration may only have a certain impact on housing demand in big cities, and the effectiveness depends on the group of people being cut as well as the field in which they are participating.
The government still affirms that Australia needs migrant workers
Although it is aiming to reduce NOM, the government also emphasizes that immigration still plays an important role for Australia. Minister Tanya Plibersek said the government wants to develop a reasonable policy that both controls the immigration program and recognizes that Australia still needs immigrants.
She also emphasized the need for skilled labor, especially in fields such as:
- Health
- Elderly care
- Agriculture
This shows that the policy adjustment direction is not simply to reduce all migration groups, but is also likely to focus more on choosing who can come to Australia, stay and leave Australia.
Parties have different views
The issue of immigration has also become an important political topic in Australia. Opposition leader Angus Taylor said that Australia is still a country with a history of accepting immigrants, but he said the government needs to change the way it manages immigration numbers and standards. Meanwhile, Nationals leader Matt Canavan said the Liberal–National coalition will announce its own immigration policy at the appropriate time before the election. He also said that the fact that the Coalition has not announced a policy at this time is not a problem, because the election is about 18 months away.
In another development, One Nation has proposed a plan to cut 750,000 temporary visa holders within three years if the party is elected, according to information reported by SBS.
What should international students and those preparing documents keep in mind?
The most important point at this time is that proposals or information before the speech should not be considered as the Visa regulations officially taking effect. The government’s plan announced on September 17, 2026 is the basis for specifically assessing what changes will be applied.
For those who are preparing:
- Profile Visa 500 – Study in Australia
- Visa 600 profile – Australian tourism
- Labor and skills profile
- Relatives sponsorship profile
- Visa conversion or extension plan in Australia
Monitoring official regulations after the government announces the plan will be more important than just relying on information being predicted by the media.
The key to the new plan
The notable points before the announcement can be summarized as follows:
1. Australia is aiming to reduce NOM
The stated target is to reduce from around 300,000 to 245,000 in 2026–27 and aim for 225,000 people per year thereafter.
2. Temporary visas are a very notable group
Temporary visa holders make up around 70% of NOM in 2024–25, including large numbers of international students and Working Holiday travelers.
3. International students may face some changes
Especially issues related to bringing family to Australia and the right to work in some transitional visa cases. However, at the time of writing, these contents have not yet been confirmed as official regulations.
4. Government still needs skilled workers
Sectors such as health, aged care and agriculture continue to be mentioned as Australian industries in need of workers.
5. The new policy may focus more on the quality of migrants
The government is expected to aim to attract more qualified, more skilled and younger people.
September 17, 2026 is a notable day for those who are concerned about Australian immigration policy. However, what needs to be watched is not only how many people Australia will reduce, but more importantly which Visa groups will be affected, how the criteria for selecting migrants will change and when those changes will be implemented. For international students, workers and families planning to go to Australia, they should wait for official regulations before changing their documents or financial plans.
Source: SBS
