Coalition’s migration plan risks breaching India free trade agreement and damaging economy, advocates warn
The Australian Coalition has proposed a significant reduction in temporary graduate visas, aiming to cut numbers from over 270,000 to 10,000 by 2032. Critics warn the plan could violate a free trade agreement with India and harm the competitiveness of the Australian higher education sector.
Why it matters
This policy shift highlights the tension between immigration control and the economic reliance of universities on international student revenue.
University students on campus at Monash University. The Coalition proposes slashing temporary graduate visas from 271,200 to just 10,000 by 2031-32. University students on campus at Monash University. The Coalition proposes slashing temporary graduate visas from 271,200 to just 10,000 by 2031-32. Australian politics Coalition’s migration plan risks breaching India free trade agreement and damaging economy, advocates warn Angus Taylor’s drastic cuts to graduate visas aim to end a citizenship pathway, but universities body says changes will make Australia less competitive
Get our new political email , free app or daily news podcast
Prefer the Guardian on Google The Coalition’s migration plan risks breaching Australia’s free trade agreement with India, signed by the former Morrison government, allowing Indian students to stay and work for up to four years after completing their studies.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in