On September 17, 2026, Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced a comprehensive set of immigration policy changes targeting backpackers, families of international students, and individuals overstaying visas in Australia.
Net Overseas Migration Targets and Recent Statistics
The Labor government aims to reduce net overseas migration (Nom) to 245,000 in the 2026-27 financial year and to 225,000 in 2027-28. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Nom fell to 292,000 for the year ending March 2026, down from 299,000 in December 2025.
Enhanced Enforcement Measures
New compliance strategies include repurposing a former quarantine facility in Melbourne as an immigration detention center. The Department of Home Affairs will also recruit an
additional 100 compliance officers to enforce visa laws and ensure foreign nationals without valid visas leave the country.
Visa Prioritization and Skills List Adjustments
Ministerial directions have been revised to prioritize visa applications from professionals with skills in key sectors such as healthcare, construction, education, law enforcement, defense, resources, agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing. This includes occupations like paramedics, electricians, and teachers.
Restrictions on International Students’ Families
Updated rules largely restrict dependants and family members from accompanying international students to Australia. Last year, of the 337,000 international student visas issued, approximately 45,000 were granted to dependants or family members. The majority of students will be required to travel alone.
New Visa Conditions and Penalties
All visitor visas
will now include a “no further stay” condition, preventing onshore extensions. New penalties target migration agents involved in visa fraud. Minister Burke highlighted the problematic nature of visa hopping and onshore bridging visas, calling it a “double standard” with no logical justification that has caused enforcement challenges.
Backpacker Visa Changes and Regional Work Requirements
Backpacker visa rules will shift to a ballot system for second and third-year visa allocations. These later visa years will require backpackers to complete regional work in Australia. Processing times for working holidaymaker visas are targeted to stabilize at three months.
Exemptions and Status of UK Working Holidaymakers
Working holidaymakers from the United Kingdom remain exempt from visa caps and
regional work obligations under the Australia-UK free trade agreement. Currently, nearly 80,000 working holidaymakers live in Australia, surpassing the pre-pandemic high of 35,000. Minister Burke described this rapid growth as a challenge under discussion with the UK government.
Official Statements from Tony Burke
Minister Burke emphasized that the new policies balance migration control with fairness and human decency. Regarding enforcement, he said, “This is not the sort of operation that some people have seen on TV happening in other countries.” He condemned existing visa hopping practices, stating, “It’s a double standard that really has no logic attached to it. But the consequence of that sort
of double standard has been deeply problematic.” Burke also noted that the government intends to process working holidaymaker visas more slowly to manage growth, saying, “It’s a level of growth that means we are just, at the moment, going to continue to be processing that one slowly.”
Reactions from Political and Industry Stakeholders
Opposition deputy leader Jane Hume criticized Labor’s immigration policy for lacking consistency and detail. The Greens described the measures as a “Tony Abbott-era” approach aligned with right-wing political rhetoric. The Business Chamber of Australia welcomed the changes but voiced concern over slower skilled worker processing. The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre condemned unclear policy
impacts on asylum seekers, stating migrants and refugees remain “political punching bags.” The agriculture sector expressed worry about potential workforce shortages threatening harvesting and processing before Christmas.
