2 hrs ago
Australia Plans to Bar Student Family Members in Migration Crackdown
Australia is considering new rules for people from other countries who come there to study.
Under the proposed rules, students might not be allowed to bring their partners or children with them.
Right now, students can bring children under 18, and partners can sometimes work in Australia.
The government says it wants fewer temporary migrants and a lower overall migration number.
It hopes net overseas migration will fall to 225,000 by 2028.
Migration increased sharply after Australia reopened its borders following COVID-19 restrictions.
International students made up more than half of migration in the year ending June 2025.
Supporters of tighter rules say high migration adds pressure to housing and infrastructure.
One Nation says the government should reduce migration even more.
Australia reportedly plans to stop foreign students from bringing partners and children while studying.
The proposed restrictions are part of a broader effort to reduce temporary migration and net overseas migration.
The government aims to lower net overseas migration to 225,000 by 2028 from around 300,000 currently.
Net overseas migration reached 518,000 in 2023, fell to 429,000 in 2024, and stood at 306,000 in the year to June 2025.
One Nation has called for a much larger reduction in temporary migration, including an eventual annual net migration limit of 130,000.
- Who
- The Australian government, foreign students and their families, and political groups including One Nation.
- What
- The government reportedly plans to prevent foreign students from bringing partners and children while they study and to tighten some visa-switching rules.
- Where
- Australia.
- When
- The proposed measures were reported on September 17, 2026; the migration target is for 2028.
- Why
- The measures are intended to reduce temporary migration and address political concerns about migration, housing, and infrastructure.
Government and Migration Critics
Stronger Migration Advocates
Family migration by students
Government and Migration Critics
The government is reportedly considering a ban on students bringing partners and children to help curb temporary migration.
Stronger Migration Advocates
The report does not identify a specific organization defending the current family-accompaniment rules, but current rules allow students to bring eligible family members.
Scale of migration reduction
Government and Migration Critics
The government is targeting net overseas migration of 225,000 by 2028, while One Nation wants substantially larger cuts.
Stronger Migration Advocates
The article does not provide a detailed counterproposal from migration supporters, though it notes that international students and other temporary migrants contribute to the increase.
Impact on housing and infrastructure
Government and Migration Critics
Critics of high migration link the influx to increased pressure on housing and infrastructure.
Stronger Migration Advocates
The report does not present a specific opposing assessment of those impacts.
Key facts
- Proposed family restriction
- Foreign students would reportedly be barred from bringing partners and children while studying.
- Current family rules
- Students can currently bring dependent children under 18, while spouses and partners can accompany them and may work subject to conditions.
- Migration target
- The government plans to reduce net overseas migration to 225,000 by 2028.
- Current migration level
- Net overseas migration is around 300,000, according to the report.
- 2023 peak
- Net overseas migration reached 518,000 in 2023.
- Latest reported figure
- Net overseas migration stood at 306,000 in the year ending June 30, 2025.
- One Nation proposal
- One Nation called for temporary migration to be cut by 750,000 over three years and for eventual net migration of 130,000 annually.
Sources
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