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Sydney: Australia has announced tougher visa rules for international students and skilled workers. Australian Interior Minister Clare O’Neil said during a media briefing on Monday that a new immigration policy of 10 years will be announced, stating that the previous government had destroyed the immigration system and it will need to be corrected, reducing the number of people leaving the country by 50 percent within two years.
She said her government would bring immigration numbers back under control. Under the new policy, international students will need to obtain high scores in English tests and further scrutiny will also be required for the second visa application of the student.
According to the report, a record 510,000 people came to Australia by June 2023, but the Australian government has announced an annual intake of up to 750,000 by June 2025. According to government statistics, there are approximately 650,000 foreign students in Australia, many of whom are on other visas.
The move to record levels of relocation in Australia has led to an increase in housing and infrastructure issues, yet the country is facing a shortage of skilled workers and is making efforts to attract them. Australian Interior Minister Clare O’Neil said that the new policies will attract more foreign skilled workers that the country needs.