Home Affairs Minister addresses National Press Club on migration changes

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke addressed the National Press Club on 17 September 2026, outlining changes to the migration program aimed at reducing Net Overseas Migration (NOM).

Mr Burke said these changes were formalised internally within the Government by February 2026 and were not a response to recent pressure from other parties.

He said the reforms do not go as far as he would like and that changing the demand-driven nature of the program would require legislation. In response to journalist questions about what would happen if greater cuts were made to the NOM, he replied that “it would trash our medical system, trash our aged care system and not get the construction workers in to build the homes that would actually help with the problem”.

He said the government would prefer to legislate further measures and would continue to seek Coalition support. In the interim he has to rely on ministerial directions and regulation changes.

Net Overseas Migration 

ABS data released this morning showing NOM at 292,100 for the year to March 2026, down from 309,500 the year before, 47 per cent below the post-pandemic peak according to Mr Burke’s figures. Population grew by 392,700 to 27.9 million over the same period. The Government is targeting a NOM of 245,000 in 2026-27 and 225,000 per year from 2027-28. The Government reports that it is already tracking below its forecasted NOM for this year.

Below is an outline of the matters discussed by the Minister based on his live address at the National Press Club. The transcript of the address as well as further details on the changes will be provided to members as they become available.

Problems identified

  • The migration program is largely demand-driven, leaving planning levels and processing speed as the main levers available to government.
  • “Visa-hopping”, moving between visas and using appeals to extend a stay beyond the original visa’s intent. Mr Burke distinguished this from legitimate progression (e.g. student to graduate to skilled visa to citizenship).
  • Housing problems are not entirely caused by immigration, but immigration needs to be part of the solution while supply catches up.
  • Mr Burke rejected claims of “mass migration” or that some visa categories are irrelevant to NOM.

Student and graduate visas

Addition of secondary applicants 

  • Most students and graduates will no longer be able to have secondary visa applicants.
  • Those already in Australia with secondary visa applicants are not affected.
  • Exceptions remain for students from Pacific and ASEAN nations, and for postgraduate study (PhD).

Course transfers 

  • Genuine students will be able to apply for new visas to progress up the qualification scale i.e. Bachelor to Masters.
  • Transfers to lower tier providers will require a new visa application. This is already within policy and condition 8202.

Working Holiday Maker (subclass 417/462) visas

Ballot 

  • A ballot will be introduced for second and third year visas and applicants will still be expected to complete the existing regional work requirement (88 days for year two, six months for year three).
  • Year Two ballot will be capped at 45,000 places (down from 57,000 this year).
  • Year Three ballot will be capped at 5,000 places (down from around 31,000 this year).

Processing

  • Processing for WHM applications will return to normal pace for those with the regional requirements already met.
  • For UK applicants, because they are not required to undertake regional work under that Free Trade Agreement, the pace will remain slower to address the large growth in that cohort, which has grown from a low of 17,000 pre-COVID to 80,000 onshore currently.

Visitor visas 

No further stay (condition 8503) 

  • A No Further Stay condition will apply to all future visitor visa grants, blocking further onshore applications for most visas, with the exception of protection visa applications.
  • Visitor visas already granted and those already in Australia holding a visitor visa will not be affected.
  • This measure has been introduced to make it fairer for visitors from all countries by reducing the number of people arriving in Australia and lodging e.g. onshore partner visas.
  • This should make it easier for applicants to meet the Genuine Temporary Entrant requirement because they will need to leave on visa expiry.
  • Offshore partners should be able to more easily be granted visitor visas for extended periods to be with their partner in Australia under this system.

Skilled visas 

Points test

  • A new Points Test will be introduced with more weight given to housing and construction trade qualifications.
  • Qualified tradespeople in high-demand areas will score points broadly comparable to a university qualification.

Processing priority – Ministerial Direction 119

  • Adds agriculture, resources/fisheries to the priority-processing list. Mr Burke also mentioned the addition of construction and teaching which are already within MD 119 (Part 2 8 (3)(c)) alongside healthcare. The MIA is seeking further detail on these changes.

Protection visas 

  • Mr Burke said addressing disingenuous protection visa claims would require legislation but gave no further detail today.
  • The Minister was also asked if rejected protection visa holders would have their work rights removed but he responded that this idea had never been raised or discussed in the Party room and was not on the Government’s agenda.

Family visas 

The Minister was asked about long partner visa processing times and did not indicate any plans to address this.

Compliance and enforcement (cross – visa) 

Strengthening regulation of migration agents 

  • The MIA disappointedly noted that the Minister would yet again target “rogue” migration agents who knowingly support applications without merit, with further sanctions to follow.

Ministerial Direction 110

  • MD110 (character and conduct) to be updated to strengthen protections for child crime victims, family violence victims and reflecting modern Australia’s commitment to stamping out hatred. This information was not part of the national press club speech but was included in the Minister’s media release on the migration reforms which was sent on the same day.

Visa overstayers 

  • Stronger action will be taken on the estimated 77,000 visa overstayers, returning to the pre-2015 process of detention followed by voluntary departure within weeks. Mr Burke said this had proved to have a wider deterrent effect, but he said this would not resemble raid-style enforcement.
  • Additional resourcing will be provided including 100 additional compliance officers and 250 additional detention beds, possibly utilising a former quarantine facility in Melbourne for visa overstayers.  Mr Burke stated that the mandatory visa cancellations introduced in 2015, had changed the character of detention centres and the government does not wish to see simple overstayers confined with criminals awaiting deportation.
  • These moves are designed to induce behaviour changes in overstayers.