Economic think-tank MacroBusiness has published a commentary alleging a new wave of fraud in Australia’s partner-migration programme, claiming that lax sponsorship rules continue to enable sham marriages despite earlier reforms. Citing 2018 testimony from demographer Dr Bob Birrell and former immigration minister Philip Ruddock, the article argues that the Department of Home Affairs still approves spousal visas with minimal evidence of genuine relationships.
The post comes as bridging-visa numbers hit a record 2.55 million in Q3 2025, fuelling political debate over net-overseas migration and housing demand. MacroBusiness contends that partner-visa ‘rorting’ is contributing to the backlog, thereby prolonging processing times for legitimate family-reunion cases and straining compliance resources.
![Partner-Visa ‘Sham Marriage’ Rorts Back in Spotlight as Commentators Warn of Systemic Loopholes]()
Although the article is an opinion piece rather than an official investigation, it is gaining traction on social media and could add pressure on the Albanese Government to tighten evidentiary thresholds ahead of the 2026 migration-strategy review. Industry bodies such as the Migration Institute of Australia have previously called for mandatory in-person interviews and a five-year sponsorship bar for serial sponsors.
Corporate mobility teams may face questions from expatriate employees whose partners are awaiting visa decisions. Advisers recommend maintaining robust documentation—joint leases, financial statements and travel records—to pre-empt tougher scrutiny should Home Affairs move to close the perceived loopholes.
The post comes as bridging-visa numbers hit a record 2.55 million in Q3 2025, fuelling political debate over net-overseas migration and housing demand. MacroBusiness contends that partner-visa ‘rorting’ is contributing to the backlog, thereby prolonging processing times for legitimate family-reunion cases and straining compliance resources.
Although the article is an opinion piece rather than an official investigation, it is gaining traction on social media and could add pressure on the Albanese Government to tighten evidentiary thresholds ahead of the 2026 migration-strategy review. Industry bodies such as the Migration Institute of Australia have previously called for mandatory in-person interviews and a five-year sponsorship bar for serial sponsors.
Corporate mobility teams may face questions from expatriate employees whose partners are awaiting visa decisions. Advisers recommend maintaining robust documentation—joint leases, financial statements and travel records—to pre-empt tougher scrutiny should Home Affairs move to close the perceived loopholes.
