How Labor are secretly planning a huge immigration crackdown – but it’s been thrown into chaos as an internal blow-up forces minister to pull major announcement
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has postponed a National Press Club address where he was expected to unveil a sweeping package of reforms aimed at sharply reducing Australia’s net migration.
Among the measures reportedly under consideration are tougher family visa rules, caps on backpacker numbers, and tighter restrictions on the work and appeal rights of asylum seekers.
The package was also expected to stop the spouses, children and parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents from lodging family visa applications while visiting Australia on tourist visas. Many families have relied on this pathway to remain together while waiting years for permanent visas to be processed.
If the option is scrapped, applicants would instead have to wait overseas until their permanent visas are approved, with the added risk of being pushed further back in the queue under the government’s latest ministerial direction.
The proposed changes form part of a broader package designed to deliver a rapid and significant reduction in net migration.
Burke had been due to announce the measures at the National Press Club on Thursday but withdrew late on Tuesday.
Daily Mail understands that several measures due to be announced in Burke’s speech sparked heated debate during Monday’s cabinet meeting, prompting the minister to postpone the address while negotiations continued.
‘The speech would deal with the migration system as a whole,’ a spokesperson for Burke said.
Tony Burke (pictured) was set to make a major speech outlining changes to migration
Labor continues to be concerned about Pauline Hanson (pictured) and One Nation’s polling
‘Yesterday it became clear that some elements of the speech would not be finalised by Thursday. We’re working with the Press Club to find a new date.’
Late last month, Burke quietly introduced a separate series of migration changes expected to further reduce net migration.
He also directed officials to prioritise applicants already in Australia over offshore applicants for permanent skilled and family visas, with limited exceptions for workers in law enforcement and defence.
The directive effectively pushes lower-priority offshore applicants further back in the queue, reducing the number of permanent migrants arriving from overseas in the short term.
Other reported measures include an across-the-board increase in visa application fees.
The Albanese government is becoming increasingly concerned about shifting public attitudes towards immigration, as migration levels emerge as a key political issue and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation continues to gain support.
A Lowy Institute poll released in June found 55 per cent of Australians believe the number of migrants arriving in Australia each year is too high.
