Overall, Australia’s population grew to 26.8 million people – the fastest growth rate on record.
Sydney:
Australia will begin imposing stricter visa rules for foreign students this week as official data showed a record number of immigrants, which could further exacerbate an already tight rental market.
From Saturday, English language requirements for student and postgraduate visas will be increased, while the government will have the power to suspend educational institutions from enrolling international students if they repeatedly breach the rules.
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neill said in a statement: “This weekend’s action will continue to drive down immigration levels while delivering on our commitments in the Immigration Strategy to repair the broken system we have inherited.”
A new “genuine student test” will be introduced to further crack down on international students who want to come to Australia primarily to work, while a “no further stay” condition will apply to more visitor visas.
It follows a series of moves by the previous government last year to roll back coronavirus concessions made by the previous government, including unrestricted working hours for international students. The government said at the time it would tighten rules for students, potentially halving immigrant enrollments within two years.
Australia is boosting annual immigration numbers in 2022 to help businesses recruit staff to fill shortages after nearly two years of keeping foreign students and workers away due to strict border controls brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Condition.
But the sudden influx of foreign workers and students has added to pressure on an already tight rental market.
Figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Thursday showed net migration rose 60 per cent to a record 548,800 in the year to September 30, 2023, up from 518,000 in the year to June 2023.
Overall, Australia’s population grew by 2.5 per cent in the year to September last year, the fastest increase on record, to 26.8 million people.
Record immigration, driven by students from India, China and the Philippines, has expanded the labor supply and dampened wage pressures, but has also exacerbated an already tight housing market, with rental vacancies hovering at record lows and construction costs The rise limits new supply.
Mr O’Neill said the government’s actions since September had resulted in lower immigration levels, with recent international student visas being issued 35 per cent lower than the previous year.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
