Overview
- Announced Thursday, September 17, 2026, the government set targets to reduce net overseas migration to about 245,000 for 2026–27 and to 225,000 by 2028.
- Most international students will no longer be able to bring partners or children, with narrow exceptions for some Pacific and Southeast Asian nationals and for certain higher‑degree courses.
- Working Holiday Maker rights will be limited by a ballot and caps that cut second‑year places to 45,000 and third‑year places to 5,000 and add regional work requirements.
- Border Force will get 100 more compliance officers and about 250 additional detention beds as the government moves to locate and remove an estimated 77,000 overstayers and may repurpose a Melbourne facility.
- The skilled migration points test will be reweighted to favour trades and priority sectors such as construction, health and agriculture while business groups, farmers and universities warn of regional labour gaps and economic risks as some reforms still need Senate approval.