Vanuatu Travel Advice Updated After Quake Damage; ‘Exercise Normal Safety Precautions’ Remains
Student-Visa Processing List Updated; 30 % of Providers Downgraded to ‘Standard’ Priority
Border Force Seizes Record 586 Million Cigarettes and 3 Million Vapes in National Crack-down
Latest News
Immigration Minister Flags Flexible—Not Fixed—Migration Targets
Immigration Minister Tony Burke said on 24 October that setting rigid multi-year migration caps would be “counter-productive,” favouring flexibility as labour-market conditions evolve. The signal to employers is clear: annual quotas may swing, so early application strategies and diversified visa routes are critical.
Biosecurity Update Alters Import Rules for Indonesian Mangosteen Shipments
DAFF’s Industry Advice Notice 360-2025, released 24 October, introduces a pest-management ‘systems approach’ for Indonesian mangosteens, offering an alternative to methyl-bromide fumigation. The change may affect mixed cargo and personal shipments, so employers should verify treatment certificates to avoid delays.
Swiss Student Jailed 8 Years for Smuggling 21 kg of Cocaine via Melbourne Airport
A Swiss man was sentenced on 24 October to more than eight years in jail after ABF and AFP officers caught him with 21 kg of cocaine at Melbourne Airport. The high-profile case reinforces Australia’s severe penalties for drug importation and signals to multinationals that any staff involvement—deliberate or accidental—can end careers and derail visa status.
Surging net migration intensifies Australia’s housing-supply crunch
NPLT arrivals to August 2025 already exceed 379,000, signalling stronger-than-forecast immigration inflows and adding stress to an undersupplied housing market. Mobility teams should brace for higher accommodation costs and longer house-hunting cycles.
South Australia re-opens General Skilled Migration program with new ‘Registration of Interest’ model
South Australia has replaced its first-come, first-served state-nomination model with a Registration of Interest system, aiming to prioritise onshore graduates and critical-skills workers while controlling application volumes.
Australia opens first MATES ballot, offering 3,000 two-year visas to young Indian professionals
Home Affairs will run the first MATES ballot from 1 November, giving 3,000 qualified young Indians the chance to secure a two-year Australian work visa. The scheme targets high-growth sectors and adds a new option for employers facing STEM shortages.
Canberra moves to slash Western Australia’s skilled-migration quota by 30 percent
Canberra has signalled it will cut Western Australia’s 2025-26 state-nominated skilled-migration places by 30 percent, triggering push-back from industry and the WA Government. Employers warn the smaller intake will deepen skills shortages and slow major projects, while the Commonwealth says it is simply rebalancing allocations between states.
Permanent migration cap to hold at 185,000 places for 2025-26 program year
Canberra has opted to keep the 2025-26 permanent migration ceiling at 185,000 places, emphasising skilled entrants. The decision offers planning stability for employers but leaves room for re-allocating spots between states.