Australia Repatriates Eight ‘ISIS Brides’ and 14 Children from Syrian Camp
DFAT Sends Consular Team to Canary Islands as Hantavirus Hits Antarctic Cruise
One Nation’s Historic By-Election Win Puts Immigration Policy in the Spotlight
Latest News
Budget to deliver overhaul of skilled-migration points test and faster skills recognition
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says next week’s budget will rewrite the skilled-migration points test and fund faster recognition of overseas qualifications. The move aims to target younger, highly educated migrants and unlock an estimated $10 billion in annual productivity gains for business. Employers should expect consultation to start in June and legislation by December.
Opposition plans migration cap tied to housing supply to ease affordability crisis
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor says a Coalition government would set the size of Australia’s migration intake by how many new homes are built each year, promising to fix the housing crisis. The policy would slash net migration, expand social-media checks and require a binding values pledge, creating new compliance steps for employers and relocation managers.
First ever Australian crimes-against-humanity charges laid against ISIS returnees
Three women repatriated from Syria have become the first people in Australia to be charged with crimes against humanity, signalling tougher enforcement against ISIS returnees. The landmark prosecutions highlight new security hurdles for any future repatriations and set a precedent for how Australia will manage high-risk citizens coming home from conflict zones.
Population group warns against converting 3 million temporary visa holders to permanent residents
Sustainable Population Australia has urged the government to drop mooted plans for a mass conversion of temporary visa holders to permanent residency, warning of environmental and infrastructure strains. The clash of views highlights policy uncertainty that could reshape talent strategies for employers banking on graduate and bridging-visa streams.
Smartraveller renews ‘Do Not Travel’ advisory for Ukraine amid escalating attacks
DFAT’s 8 May update keeps Ukraine at ‘Do Not Travel’ status, citing new drone and missile threats. The warning heightens duty-of-care obligations for Australian firms with staff in the region and underscores that embassy help is extremely limited.