The Australian authorities announced their intention to reduce immigration levels by tightening visa procedures for students and holders of work and tourist visas, in addition to taking stricter measures against those who exceed their legal stay.
Australian Minister of Immigration and Citizenship Tony Burke said, during a speech at the Press Club in the capital, Canberra, that the pressures facing the housing sector require changes in immigration policy, stressing at the same time that immigration represents a source of strength for Australia.
Burke explained that reducing immigration is necessary to help the housing sector meet demand, but stressed that the housing crisis cannot be blamed on immigrants alone. He pointed out that those with skills related to construction and housing will receive priority in obtaining visas.
Under the new measures, additional restrictions will be imposed on relatives of international students, and the process of transferring between study programs in order to extend residency will become more difficult.
Work and holiday visas for workers in rural areas will also be subject to a lottery system for the opportunity to stay for a second or third year, with only 5,000 visas allocated for the third year.
These measures come after net immigration to Australia declined to about 292,000 people during the twelve months until last March, after reaching record levels following the reopening of borders after the Covid-19 pandemic.
