ACT Raises Income Thresholds and Scraps 482-Visa Pathway in 2026 Skilled-Migration Overhaul
Western Sydney International Airport on Track for July Cargo Launch and October Passenger Flights
DFAT Issues Fresh Smartraveller Alerts for Eswatini and Nepal, Citing Civil Unrest and Election-Related Risks
Latest News
New Liberal Leader Angus Taylor Vows to Curb “Bad Immigration” in Policy Reset
New Liberal leader Angus Taylor says the Coalition will target “bad immigration”, signalling possible tighter character tests and lower visa numbers. While details remain vague, the hard-line tone could influence bipartisan negotiations on skilled-migration settings that businesses depend on.
‘AUKUS Visa’ Concept Gains Traction as Think-Tank Calls for Fast-Track Defence Mobility
Analysts at ASPI’s The Strategist call for a purpose-built ‘AUKUS visa’ that would let skilled trades and engineers shuttle quickly between Australia, the US and UK to keep the nuclear-submarine program on schedule. They argue present visa classes are too slow and fragmented, urging 30-day processing and mutual security-clearance recognition. Businesses in the defence supply chain should ready evidence to support forthcoming Home Affairs consultations.
Australia Updates Travel Advisories for Four Key European Destinations
DFAT’s Smartraveller service issued same-day updates (12 Feb 2026) for Albania, Hungary, Austria and the UK. The strongest language relates to Albania, where violent protests have escalated; the UK alert flags potential Easter-period border strikes. Business travellers should expect Schengen biometric kiosks, longer airport queues and possible ground-transport disruptions. Updating internal risk-alerts and travel insurance checks is advised.
AFP Charges Iraq-Born Resident Over Repeated Visa-Monitoring Breaches in Perth
A 43-year-old Iraq-born man faces seven charges in Perth for repeatedly failing to comply with his visa-monitoring conditions, with penalties of up to five years’ jail and AUD 99,000 per offence. The AFP action signals stepped-up enforcement against non-citizens breaching post-detention reporting rules—important context for employers who rely on temporary visa holders in Western Australia.
Second Electronic-Monitoring Prosecution: Somalia-Born Man Charged in Melbourne
Hours after Perth charges, the AFP filed 15 counts against a Somalia-born man in Melbourne for disabling his monitoring device and ignoring curfews. The case reinforces Canberra’s zero-tolerance stance on post-detention visa conditions and highlights potential corporate-risk exposure for service providers supporting monitored non-citizens.
Bali Consulate Schedules Pop-Up Passport and Notarial Services in Lombok
Australians in Lombok have until 12 Feb 2026 to book passport and notarial appointments for a one-day consular pop-up on 4 March. The initiative saves residents and business travellers a trip to Bali and signals DFAT’s push to deliver flexible consular access in regional Indonesia.