The Australian government has declared its intention to cut the migration intake by half within the next two years, aiming to address what it calls the country’s “broken” immigration system, a move likely to hit Kenyans.
The goal is to reduce the annual intake to 250,000 by June 2025, aligning it with pre-pandemic levels.
As part of the new strategy unveiled last week, Aussie Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil highlighted the need for significant reform, citing a review that identified the existing system as broken, marked by unnecessary complexity, sluggishness, and inefficiency.
How Australian Dreams Threaten Kenya’s Food Security
Australia has become one of the favourite destinations for Kenyan students who have in recent days flocked the country for both education and part-time jobs.
Among the proposed measures are heightened minimum English-language requirements for international students and increased scrutiny for those seeking a second visa, necessitating proof that further study would advance their academic or career aspirations.
Australia has experienced a surge in migration, reaching a record 510,000 people arriving in the year leading up to June 2023.
Minister O’Neil expressed the government’s commitment to restore normalcy and decrease the annual migration intake by approximately 50 percent.
To achieve this, the government plans to implement stricter visa rules for international students and low-skilled workers.
The reforms also address the shortage of skilled workers by improving visa pathways for those with “specialist” or “essential” skills, such as highly-skilled tech workers or care professionals, offering improved prospects for permanent residency.
Australia acknowledge the current challenges faced by the migration system and highlighted the necessity of attracting the skilled workers Australia needs while simultaneously minimising the risk of exploitation for those residing, working, and studying in the country.
The Labor government, which has witnessed a decline in popularity since its election last year, faces pressure to address Australia’s housing crisis.
Some argue for a temporary reduction in migration, while others, including the Business Council of Australia, contend that migrants are unfairly blamed for a lack of investment in affordable housing and decades of inadequate housing policy.
Additional reporting by BBC.
news@businessdayafrica.org