Australia housing crisis – Artifex.News

Australia cracks down on student and backpacker visas to curb migration

admin — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 08:31:00 +0000

Australian Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Tony Burke addresses the National Press Club in Canberra, Australia.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Australia will stop foreign students from bringing partners and children to ‌accompany them while they study and tighten working holiday visa rules, a senior Minister said on Thursday (September 17, 2026), amid growing debate over high migration levels.

The government’s move comes after ⁠the hard-right One Nation party, which has been surging in recent polls, said this week that it would slash the number of temporary migrants by 750,000 over three years, to give Australians “breathing space.”

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke ‌dismissed suggestions the changes were politically motivated by the One Nation party, which describes its approach as “Australia first” and whose policies have drawn comparisons to those of U.S. President Donald ‌Trump.

“It’s simply demonstrably wrong to suspect that somehow this is a recent bit of work ‌done ⁠to deal with a political climate – it’s not,” Mr. Burke told reporters.

The reforms are expected ⁠to bring annual net migration down to about 225,000 by 2028 — broadly in line with pre-pandemic levels — from around 300,000 now. The cost of living and immigration have consistently ranked among voters’ top concerns in recent polls.

Mr. Burke said Australia would toughen its enforcement on visa overstayers, including hiring 100 ‌additional compliance officers and exploring the repurposing of a pandemic-era quarantine facility in Melbourne to house immigration detainees.

“If you want to come on a temporary basis to Australia, apply for a temporary visa. If you want to come to Australia permanently, apply for a permanent visa. And if ‌you no longer have a valid visa, you should leave Australia,” he said.

Ballot for backpackers

Under the new measures, a ballot system will be introduced for backpackers seeking to extend their working holiday visas.

All visitor visas will carry a “no further stay” ⁠provision preventing holders from remaining in Australia while applying for another visa category such as a partner visa.

International students will only be permitted to renew their student visas if they move up the qualification scale.

Some ‌students from Pacific Island nations and Southeast Asia will be able to bring their partners and children, but secondary applicants will not be allowed on most student visas.

Spouses and partners of international students can currently work in Australia, although the number of hours they are permitted varies depending on the course of study.

International education contributed A$53.6 billion ($38 billion) to the Australian economy in the year to June 2025, making it the country’s fourth-largest export. Despite this, foreign students have been a central focus ‌of the centre-left Labor government’s migration reduction efforts.

Student visa application fees have risen by nearly 300% to A$2,500 over the past four years, while English-language requirements and minimum savings thresholds for graduate visa applicants have also been tightened.

“It is chipping away the confidence in what has been a ⁠great national asset for this country — international education,” Luke Sheehy, CEO of Universities Australia, said in a radio ⁠interview with public broadcaster ABC on the proposed policy shift.

Migration surged after Australia reopened its borders in February 2022 following nearly two years of COVID-19 closures, driven largely by international ‌students, backpackers and temporary workers.

However, numbers have been declining over the past two years. Net overseas migration stood at 306,000 in the year to June 30, 2025, with international students accounting for more than half, down from a peak of 518,000 in 2023.

Published – September 17, 2026 01:59 pm IST

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How Will It Affect Indians Migrants

admin — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 14:22:26 +0000

Canberra:

Australia is planning to ban foreigners from buying established houses for the next two years. The move is part of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese-led government’s election pitch to tackle surging home prices. The move is likely to affect a large number of Indians who go to Australia for their higher education and later settle there.

Australia’s Housing Minister Clare O’Neil announced that from April 1, foreign investors will be banned from buying established property until March 31, 2027.

After the deadline, the restriction will be reviewed to determine whether it should be extended, she noted, adding that the tax office will be given extra funding to help enforce the ban.

Housing Crisis In Australia

Australia’s housing is some of the most unaffordable in the world. With elections in Australia set to be held later this year, soaring property prices are likely to be the key issue amid a broader cost-of-living crisis, especially among young voters who fear they’ll never be able to buy a home. Rents have also been climbing in the country in recent years.

In Sydney, housing values have jumped almost 70 per cent over the past 10 years, with the median dwelling price now around A$1.2 million ($762,000), Bloomberg reported quoting property consultancy CoreLogic Inc.

Per figures issued by the Australian Taxation Office, overseas investors bought A$4.9 billion of residential real estate – including vacant land, and new and established dwellings – in the 12 months ended June 30, 2023.

Who Will Be Affected

Under the new rule, foreign investors, including temporary residents such as international students and overseas companies, will be restricted from buying established residential properties during the two-year period.

However, they will still be able to purchase new dwellings to encourage housing supply and a carve-out will also be provided for workers on a Pacific visa scheme.

Additionally, the government is also planning to curb land banking by foreign investors, requiring them to develop vacant land within a set timeframe.

Australia has been a preferred choice for Indian students aiming to pursue top-notch education and bright career prospects overseas. In 2023-24, India remained the leading source country for immigrants to Australia.

Labor Replicates Coalition Policy

The Labor government’s move to ban foreign purchases of established houses matches a pledge by opposition leader Peter Dutton made last year. An election must be held by May 17, and polls show it will be a close fight, with cost-of-living concerns and housing among the top three issues.

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Australia to put two-year ban on foreigners buying existing homes amid housing crunch

admin — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 01:14:33 +0000

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Australia will ban foreign investors from buying existing homes in the country for two years, its government said on Sunday (February 16, 2025), in an effort to boost under-pressure housing supply.

“We’re banning foreign purchases of established dwellings from April 1, 2025, until March 31 2027,” Treasurer Jim Chalmers said in a statement with Housing Minister Clare O’Neil. It added that a review would be undertaken on whether the ban would be extended.

Dissatisfaction with housing in Australia reached an all-time high last year and it is an issue that is expected to dominate a general election due by May.

Mr. O’Neil said in comments televised by the Australian Broadcasting Corp that the ban would likely free up around 1,800 properties per year for local buyers.

“These initiatives are a small but important part of our already big and broad housing agenda which is focused on boosting supply and helping more people into homes,” the Ministers’ statement said.

Housing is the largest contributor to the rising cost of living in Australia and is set to be a key issue at the upcoming election. A recent poll had the centre-left Labor government lagging its main conservative political opposition.

The government recently passed housing reforms including a shared equity scheme and tax incentives for developers, to ease cost pressures and achieve a target of building 1.2 million new homes by 2030.

Published – February 16, 2025 06:44 am IST

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