Thank you for following our national news live blog on Thursday, September 17.
Here’s a brief overview of our coverage of and reactions to Labor’s migration overhaul:
- Deportations will be ramped up, partner-visa loopholes will be closed, students won’t be able to “hop around” to lower degrees, a ballot system will be introduced for backpackers, and construction workers will be prioritised under Labor’s long-awaited changes to Australia’s migration program.
- Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the plan was about reaching the government’s net migration target of 225,000. He warned, though, that going lower than 225,000 would have a significant impact on the economy.
- Net overseas migration for the March quarter was 101,005 – a 6 per cent fall on the same period in 2025 – according to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released this morning. Through the year, net overseas migration eased to 292,100, the smallest number since mid-2022.
- Coalition senators said on Thursday that net overseas migration was still too high. Nationals leader Matt Canavan has sparked controversy inside the Coalition by advocating negative migration in recent days, sparking a split with Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, who does not support such a severe cut.
- One Nation leader Pauline Hanson suggested this morning that both Labor and the Coalition had started to see that they’ve “done the wrong thing by the country”. Students across the country protested against Hanson and her party.
- Deputy Liberal leader Jane Hume said a well-managed migration program had been the foundation of Australia’s economic growth, progress and prosperity for decades. But she said Labor hadn’t managed it well. We’re yet to see the Coalition’s migration policy.
- Greens senator David Shoebridge accused Labor of following One Nation’s lead on migration. Immigration experts and the university sector have called on the government to tread carefully with its changes.
