In a nation shaped by waves of arrival and departure, Australia's government has chosen to manage migration by narrowing the door rather than understanding who is already inside. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke's new policy package, announced this week, targets the visible politics of incoming numbers while leaving largely untouched the structural reality that net migration remains high because too few people are leaving. What emerges is a set of restrictions that will separate families, strain labour markets, and leave the country without a coherent vision for how it intends to live alongsid
Australia's migration policy lacks strategic planning, critics say
Partners and children of Australian citizens will face restrictions on residency, potentially forcing Australian citizens to relocate overseas to maintain family relationships.