Australia to cut migration to fix housing crisis: minister
Summary
Australia will cut migration, tighten student and working holiday visa rules, and crack down on overstayers as the government seeks to ease housing pressures. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the changes are aimed at restoring control without blaming migrants for the housing shortage.
Key Points
- Australia will reduce migration by tightening rules on students, working holiday makers and overstayers.
- Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the housing shortage is not caused by migrants, but immigration must slow enough for housing supply to catch up.
- The government plans to prioritize construction and housing skills, add compliance officers, and increase detention capacity for visa overstayers.
- Net overseas migration has fallen from a post-Covid peak of 538,000 in 2022 to 292,100 in the year to March.
