Australia cracks down on student and backpacker visas to curb migration
Australia is implementing stricter visa regulations for international students and backpackers to manage high migration levels. The changes include banning students from bringing dependents and introducing a ballot system for working holiday visa extensions.
Why it matters
These policy shifts reflect growing global political pressure to manage migration and address domestic cost-of-living concerns.
SYDNEY: Australia will stop foreign students from bringing partners and children to accompany them while they study and tighten working holiday visa rules, a senior minister said on Thursday, amid growing debate over high migration levels.The government's move comes after the hard-right One Nation party, which has been surging in recent polls, said this week that it would slash the number of temporary migrants by 750,000 over three years, to give Australians "breathing space."Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke dismissed suggestions the changes were politically motivated by the One Nation party, which describes its approach as "Australia first" and whose policies have drawn comparisons to those of U.S.
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