Australia to cut migration, bar students from bringing families

Australia's government is set to announce a major overhaul of its migration system, aiming to cut net overseas migration from about 300,000 to 225,000 by 2028. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke will outline the policy, titled "Who Arrives, Who Stays, Who Leaves," in a speech at the National Press Club on Thursday, September 17, 2026. The core of the plan involves restricting international students from bringing family members to Australia while they study. Under the proposed changes, secondary visas for dependants would be limited mainly to higher-degree research students, Pacific islanders, East Timorese nationals, and certain sponsored individuals. The government is also considering measures to reduce visa overstays and limit the ability of temporary migrants to switch visa categories while in the country. The government intends to implement these changes through ministerial regulations rather than legislation, a move necessitated by a lack of Senate support. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had previously sought a compromise with Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, but those negotiations stalled.