Australia bans foreign students from bringing partners and children as net migration is cut to 225,000
From the Newshound archive · first published 19 September 2026.
Pauline Hanson (right), whose One Nation party has pledged to slash temporary migrant numbers by 750,000 over three years, as Australia's Labor government announces sweeping new immigration restrictions.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has unveiled a comprehensive shake-up of Australia's immigration framework, preventing international students from arriving with partners or dependent children during their studies. The package will also cut working holiday visa extensions, tighten rules on visa-switching used to lengthen stays, and deploy 100 additional compliance officers to chase overstayers. Net overseas migration is forecast to drop from roughly 300,000 to 225,000 by 2028.
The hard-right One Nation party, surging in polls, had demanded a cut of 750,000 temporary migrants over three years — a push Burke denied was driving the reforms.
All visitor visas will now carry a 'no further stay' condition, blocking tourists from switching to partner or other visa categories to extend their time in Australia.
Students wanting to stay longer must upgrade to a higher qualification — ending the practice of repeatedly switching courses to prolong residency.
