This Month
Migrant intake has ‘already hit record 500k’
International students and working holidaymakers entering Australia in large numbers pushed the net overseas migration a long way past Treasury’s yearly forecast.
- Michael Read and Tom McIlroy
Sydney, Brisbane, Perth house prices to rise 12pc this year
The rosier prediction comes as expectations for a wider housing market recovery over the next few years strengthen.
- Updated
- Nila Sweeney
Where to find the cheapest properties to rent near the CBDs
These are the suburbs where tenants can still rent a house for under $500 a week and units for less than $400.
- Nila Sweeney
- Opinion
- Australian economy
How to get fiscal dividend from a jobs, skills and training virtuous cycle
Reforms in vocational and higher education, and migration, can realistically aim to promote economic growth and would more than repay the upfront investment cost.
- Peter Dawkins
- Opinion
- Opinion
Why immigration numbers don’t add up
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil is announcing big changes to the visa system, but that won’t do much to deter surging net immigration numbers.
- Jennifer Hewett
Migration agents to face tough background and compliance checks
A major review has identified “grotesque abuses” in Australia’s immigration system, prompting what the Albanese government says will be the biggest changes in decades.
- Tom McIlroy
Too many foreign graduates in low-pay, low-skill jobs: Grattan
The Grattan Institute says an overhaul of visa categories is needed to better capitalise on the brightest international students and push back on rorting.
- Tom McIlroy
Commissions banned, students monitored under visa fraud crackdown
The government says the “roots and loopholes” plaguing the visa system will be over after a raft of reforms and changes this week.
- Julie Hare
September
‘Trail of blood’: inside Michael Pezzullo’s behind-the-scenes world
Neighbours call his home “Southfork”, and just as J.R. schemed his way through Dallas, the top security mandarin put back channels to good use.
- Andrew Tillett
Labor could ignore calls for limits on working holiday visas
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil is very close to announcing the government’s response to the migration review.
- Michael Read and Tom McIlroy
- Exclusive
- Clare O'Neil
Tradies carved out of migration overhaul amid union pressure
Business may be unable to bring foreign tradies into Australia under the Albanese government’s new fast-track visa rules.
- Tom McIlroy and Michael Read
‘Exceptionally difficult’ to find workers if they can’t WFH
The freedom to work from home a few days a week has become a non-negotiable for many white-collar workers despite a recent slowdown in hiring activity.
- Euan Black
Cut immigration to 200,000 to improve housing affordability: AMP
The level of immigration must be cut to less than half its current 500,000 level to avoid overwhelming efforts to boost supply, says AMP chief economist Shane Oliver.
- Nila Sweeney
- Exclusive
- Clare O'Neil
Migration overhaul to fast-track skilled workers in days, not months
The government’s migration review will involve the biggest shake-up of a system since the 1990s – a system the government admits is “broken”.
- Michael Read and Phillip Coorey
EU vows crackdown on people smuggling after migrants overwhelm Italian island
Migrant numbers this week briefly surpassed the population of Lampedusa residents, who have been witness to countless tragedies.
- Colleen Barry
NextEd’s directors’ exceedingly lucky buy
It takes a bit of recent history to realise the sheer whip-lash that’s led to this outcome.
- Myriam Robin
International student numbers hit a record, proving unis wrong
One in every 40 people in Australia is on a student or graduate visa. That’s helping with skill shortages but not with the rental crisis.
- Julie Hare
August
O’Neil cancels COVID visa to stamp out rorting
Immigration minister Clare O’Neil has put an end to the 408 visa that has been abused by migration agents and students as a backdoor to the jobs market.
- Julie Hare
Albanese faces skilled worker visa stoush in WA
Premier Roger Cook told Mr Albanese a 70 per cent reduction in the number of state-nominated migration visas would hurt the West Australian economy.
- Tom McIlroy and Tom Rabe
Crackdown looms on rogue students, colleges
The federal government has stepped in to ward off growing cases of rorting and corruption in the student visa system.
- Julie Hare
