Asylum and Migration
Stricter Visa Rules Make It Harder for Backpackers and Students to Stay Longer in Australia
Australia announced stricter visa regulations to discourage "visa hopping" and reduce net migration to 225,000 by 2028. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated the measures aim to address housing shortages and pressure on public services. International students can no longer bring partners or children, and backpackers aged 18–30 must enter a lottery for third-year extensions. The government will deploy 100 additional enforcement agents and create 250 new detention spaces to ensure compliance with the new policies.
Ozetta summarises; the reporting is the newsroom's