Australia slashes visitor visa fee to A$25 for PNG Chiefs supporters ahead of 2028 NRL debut
Canberra keeps border settings unchanged as India reports fresh Nipah cases
Operation Sovereign Borders monthly bulletin shows uptick in offshore transfers but zero turn-backs
Latest News
Main immigration-detention contractor faces scrutiny over links to US ICE abuses
Guardian Australia has revealed that MTC—the company running several Australian immigration-detention centres—is also implicated in alleged abuses at US ICE facilities. The story raises fresh questions about contractor vetting and may accelerate political moves toward community-based alternatives to detention.
Home Affairs updates humanitarian visa statistics, signalling slower post-COVID resettlement
Newly published Home Affairs figures show Australia granted roughly 84 per cent of its 20,000-place humanitarian quota in 2025, with average processing blowing out to 18 months. The slower pipeline affects service providers and employers planning to integrate refugee talent into regional workforces.
Canberra faces backlash for handing immigration-detention contracts to US private-prison giant
Journalists revealed that the Albanese Government has awarded more than A$3 billion in detention contracts to Management and Training Corporation, a US firm repeatedly criticised for human-rights abuses in ICE facilities. Rights groups and opposition MPs say the deal undermines Australia’s commitment to humane treatment of migrants, while Home Affairs insists MTC Australia meets local standards. The row highlights the reputational and compliance risks multinationals face when relocating staff to Australia amid ongoing detention-policy turbulence.
Australia bans education-agent commissions for on-shore student transfers
From 31 March 2026, Australian education providers will be prohibited from paying commissions to agents for helping international students already on-shore switch courses or institutions mid-stream. The reform targets “course-hopping” and aims to restore integrity to the student-visa system. Providers must review contracts urgently, while employers can expect more stable student-to-graduate visa flows.
China Eastern puts Shanghai–Adelaide seats on sale, restoring direct mainland link
China Eastern Airlines has confirmed a thrice-weekly A350 service linking Shanghai and Adelaide between 21 June and 2 August 2026. The direct flight restores a critical business and tourism corridor, cuts travel time for South Australian companies and injects new freight capacity for exporters.
Qantas fixes infamous A321XLR ‘loo ratio’ as fleet renewal gathers pace
Qantas has added a third economy-class toilet to its newest A321XLR, pledging to retrofit the first three jets after widespread customer backlash. The fix coincides with a broader fleet-renewal and cabin-upgrade programme that will reshape seating configurations and capacity on domestic and near-international routes.
Tasmania issues fresh skilled-migration invitations as of 29 January 2026
Tasmania invited 62 skilled-migration candidates on 29 January—36 for Subclass 190 permanent visas and 26 for Subclass 491 regional visas—while keeping more than 1,200 nomination spots open for the rest of the programme year. Low points thresholds confirm the state’s openness to offshore and regional talent.