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🇦🇺 Australia /Culture & Society

Visa overstayers to lose work rights if asylum claim rejected in Australia immigration overhaul

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Australia is considering new immigration measures, including revoking work rights for visa overstayers whose asylum claims are rejected.
  • The proposed overhaul aims to clamp down on temporary visas and reduce the number of overseas arrivals.
  • The plan faces internal disagreements and pushback from business sectors reliant on skilled migrants.

Australia's government is contemplating a significant overhaul of its immigration system, with proposed measures including the revocation of work rights for temporary migrants who overstay their visas and subsequently have their asylum claims rejected. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to tighten controls on temporary visas and decrease the overall number of overseas arrivals.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has been finalizing a suite of measures designed to address concerns about the nation consistently exceeding its migration forecasts. While Burke's appearance at the National Press Club was postponed, the proposals were recently considered by the Expenditure Review Committee and the cabinet. Sources indicate that discussions focused heavily on managing "visa over-stayers" – individuals who remain in Australia long past their visa expiration, often on bridging visas.

The proposed migration package has reportedly been presented to the cabinet multiple times, suggesting internal debate over various aspects. These include potential crackdowns on backpacker visas, stricter rules for family reunion visas, and limitations on the work and appeal rights for asylum seekers whose initial applications are denied. The government aims to reduce net overseas migration from its current level of 300,000 to 225,000 by 2028.

These potential changes have already generated pushback from the business and mining sectors, which depend on a steady supply of skilled migrants. Additionally, some within the ruling Labor party have expressed concerns about possible alterations to the family reunion or humanitarian programs. Despite these internal discussions and external pressures, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles stated that progress is being made on what is acknowledged as a complex policy area.

I don't think anyone's unhappy. Where we're working through what is a complex policy, but a policy where we're making significant progress.

— Richard MarlesResponding to suggestions of internal disagreement over the proposed immigration reforms.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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