- Australia plans to cut migration by half in two years, affecting Pakistani students and low-skilled workers. Australia’s goal is to decrease the annual intake to 250,000 people by June 2025
- Over 60% of Australians find current immigration excessive, attributing it to housing and infrastructure issues.
- The government aims to tighten regulations for international students and low-skilled workers and instead attract highly skilled labour into the country through a fast track visa.
The Australian government has announced that it intends to reduce the migration intake by half over the next two years, seeking to address the perceived shortcomings in the nation’s immigration system which has been termed as been ‘broken.’ This directly will affect Pakistani students going for studies to Australia and also those who apply for the low- skilled worker visa.
Their goal is now to cut the yearly intake to 250,000 people, approximately aligning with pre-pandemic figures, by June 2025. The new plan also involves tightening visa regulations for international students and low-skilled workers. Australia has witnessed a surge in migration to unprecedented levels, exacerbating challenges related to housing and infrastructure.
Over 60% of Australians Deem Current Immigration Intake Excessive
Minister for Home Affairs, Clare O’Neil, has emphasized the objective of “restoring migration figures to a standard level,” with a focus on securing enduring advantages for Australia’s future.
Clare O’Neil further added,
“Our strategy will bring migration numbers back to normal. This is about Australia’s future, not just the current state of migration.”
The government asserts that the surge in migration has placed a burden on infrastructure, notably housing, leading to a rise in homelessness. A recent survey disclosed that 62% of Australians deem the current immigration intake as excessive.
While these adjustments aim to tackle concerns linked to population growth, opposition leader Peter Dutton has expressed reservations regarding the magnitude of the migration program. Dutton raised issues such as overcrowded urban-centres, strained infrastructure, and the challenge of keeping pace with demand.
Australia’s Fast Track Visa for Highly Skilled Workers to Take 1 Week
As part of extensive reforms, the Australian Labor government is implementing an expedited pathway for highly skilled workers, streamlining their entry into the country and simplifying the route to permanent residency.
A specialised visa for highly skilled workers will soon be announced which will be a special visa only for highly skilled personnel. The best part about this visa is that it will only take 1 week for the visa to be processed. The shortest duration for any visa. This measure is designed to aid businesses in attracting top-tier talent amid intense global competition.
The motivation behind these modifications, as articulated by Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil, is to find a equilibrium between addressing long-term economic needs and tackling immediate challenges such as housing affordability and strains on infrastructure.
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