Today
EU, France deliver migration crackdowns as populists surge
A “breakthrough” deal could end years of infighting over illegal immigrants. Emmanuel Macron needed a key rival’s support for his tough reforms.
- Hans van Leeuwen
This Month
Labor starts long-term migration planning amid population boom
The inaugural ministerial migration roundtable comes amid growing concern about record numbers of foreign arrivals.
- Michael Read
- Opinion
- Federal election
Labor is polls apart from Christmas last year
The government has lost every significant advantage it held this time last year.
- Phillip Coorey
Labor takes a hit on immigration, cost of living
November’s High Court ruling on the permanent detention of non-citizens appears to have cost Labor politically.
- Phillip Coorey
Labor loses lead, PM’s ratings slump: poll
Labor has lost its lead and would be pushed into minority government if an election were held today, according to The Australian Financial Review/Freshwater Strategy poll.
- Phillip Coorey
- Exclusive
- International students
Indian students given exemption to work in Australia
A free trade agreement has been given precedence over Clare O’Neil’s migration review, exacerbating a problem she was hoping to fix.
- Julie Hare
Dutton urges migration curbs, but wants more foreign tradies
Peter Dutton has slammed the government’s ban on foreign tradies using a new fast-track visa, even as he criticised Labor for not doing more to curb migration.
- Michael Read
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
It’s the next immigration problem that should worry investors
Labor’s 10-year immigration plan needs to be seen through the prism of a global fight for skills.
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- The AFR View
No populist overreaction against immigration
While talking up limiting overseas arrivals, Labor has largely maintained a demand-driven temporary skilled worker program.
- The AFR View
- Opinion
- Opinion
Labor’s quick fix for record immigration levels
Labor needs a quick fix on immigration. Will targeting dodgy vocational colleges and fast tracking professionals earning $135,000 satisfy a community unhappy with record numbers?
- Jennifer Hewett
This executive took a risk and was hired on a backpacker visa
Ines Lizaur was lured to Australia from Elon Musk’s SpaceX, but the immigration system meant she had to rely on a backpacker visa to work.
- Tess Bennett
100,000 foreign ‘students’ won’t come or will go home under reforms
Over the next year, an estimated 100,000 ‘students’ will either not arrive under new migration rules, or will be pushed to return home.
- Julie Hare
No visa fast track for foreign tradies despite housing shortage
Business groups, the property industry and housing advocates are warning the carve out will undermine the government’s target of building 1.2 million homes.
- Michael Read
- Opinion
- Opinion
Migration strategy is to turn around the backwards system
Immigration returning to normal after the catch-up is an opportunity to rebalance the program towards the skills we need to tackle Australia’s challenges.
- Clare O'Neil
Labor resists making big cuts to overall migrant intake
Labor has resisted political pressure to slash Australia’s immigration intake, and instead tightened the screws on foreign students in a bid to drive migration down to “normal” levels.
- Michael Read and Julie Hare
‘Non-genuine’ foreign students to be weeded out
The student visa system will be overhauled with the focus on quality students and providers, but numbers won’t be capped.
- Julie Hare
Backpackers spared from migration overhaul
Labor ignored a recommendation to limit the working holiday visa to one year. It committed instead to a new review of how to lure foreign workers to the regions.
- Michael Read
Immigration detention laws pass as fourth ex-detainee arrested
Canberra has already started identifying the “worst of the worst” offenders to go back into immigration detention as it circumvents a High Court ruling.
- Updated
- Andrew Tillett
Political crisis deepens as third ex-detainee arrested
The government is fending off calls that two of its ministers resign as Victorian police arrest a former ringleader of a child exploitation gang.
- Updated
- Phillip Coorey
Britain unveils tough visa measures to slash immigration
Rishi Sunak’s government raised the salary requirement for people applying to live in the UK, in a bid to reduce net migration before a general election.
- Alistair Smout and Muvija M
