Tony Burke, the Home Affairs Minister, told reporters at the National Press Club that Australia will bar international students from bringing partners or children into the country while enrolled and will tighten visa‑switch rules for temporary migrants.
Under the current regime, spouses and partners of overseas students can work, though hours depend on the course, and children under 18 may accompany them.
Net overseas migration reached 306,000 in the year ended 30 June 2025, with international students making up more than half of that total; the target is to cut the figure to 225,000 by 2028.
Universities will have to revise enrollment projections and financial aid models to accommodate the new restrictions, while families and students already planning multi‑year stays face uncertainty.
The One Nation party, which gained 20% of the vote in the latest poll, has called for a 130,000‑net‑migration cap after the initial three‑year cut, adding political pressure behind the decision.