Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 04:31am on 11 Dec 2023,Monday Education
Australia announced tighter visa rules Monday that could halve immigration over two years as it overhauls a "broken" system that saw record arrivals peak at 510,000 in 2022-23. Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil said targeted reforms are already easing pressure, with official forecasts showing a sharp drop to 250,000 in 2024-25 and 2025-26. While driven mainly by students, the influx strained resources. Seeking more sustainability, PM Anthony Albanese said levels require scaling back. Under the policy, international students will need higher English scores and lose extensions. But a new fast-tracked visa for highly-skilled workers will aid business recruitment in one of the world's tightest labor markets. The balancing act aims to better align immigration with national priorities.
