Currently, there is a record 98.2 percent voter enrolment rate, including 92 percent of eligible youth with Millennials and Gen Z now set to outnumber older generations at the ballot box, and their leading concerns, such as housing, employment, and climate reflect, a strong desire for a political system that is more inclusive and responsive to everyday Australians.
So how will this affect the political football that is immigration that is normally the scapegoat for politicians looking to gain votes?
Until we have a government confirmed we can only rely on the information that the different political parties have shared to date regarding migration program planning levels for 2025-26:
Australian Labour Party (ALP)
- The current permanent migration program is set at 185,000 for 2024/25. The government hasn’t indicated next year’s program numbers in the recent Federal budget.
- The current Humanitarian program is set at 20,000 places for 2024/25. Again the government has not indicated clearly next year’s program numbers in the recent Federal budget.
- The ALP will increase the visa application charge for primary student visas applicants to $2,000 from 1 July 2025. The arrangements for Pacific Island and Timor-Leste primary applicants will remain the same.
- In response to the recommendations of the Disability Royal Commission the government committed funds to review and modernise the Disability Discrimination Act, to be led by the Attorney-General’s Department in 2025. However, they have not specifically indicated support for removing the exemption.
- The ALP have publicly stated they oppose reintroducing a Significant Investor Visa.
Coalition
- The Coalition will reduce the permanent migration program from 185,000 to the following: for Years 1 & 2: 140,000; Year 3: 150,000; Year 4: 160,000. The Coalition have also indicated they will reduce net overseas migration (which includes temporary and permanent migration) by a further 100,000 relative to ALP.
- Humanitarian program to be set at 13,750 per annum (a reduction on current levels).
- They will reduce new foreign student commencements in higher education by at least 30,000 each year, relative to Labor.
- Will increase the student visa application charge to $5,000 for Group of Eight (Go8) universities and $2,500 for remaining international students. A new charge of $2,500 will be introduced for students who wish to change education providers.
- The Coalition has also indicated they will review the settings for Temporary Graduate Visas to address the misuse of post-study work arrangements as a pathway to permanent migration and tighten the enforcement of visa rules to minimise abuse and visa-hopping.
- The Coalition will closely consider the Government’s response to the Royal Commission’s report and the 222 recommendations to improve the health, housing, education, employment and legal systems for people with disabilities. They have not specifically indicated support for removing the exemption.
- According to media reports, the Coalition have indicated they may consider reintroducing a Significant Investor Visa type product.
The Australian Greens
- No set future number and will adapt as necessary dependent on need for the permanent migration program.
- Humanitarian program to be set at 50,000 per annum (a significant increase).
- The Greens oppose caps on international student numbers.
- The Greens have stated that they will end discrimination in the migration system by seeking to remove this exemption.
- The Greens have responded that they oppose a Significant Investor Visa.
What this means for Employers
While significant changes are proposed across student and graduate visa categories, core employer-sponsored pathways like the 482 visa are expected to remain relatively stable at least in the short term. That said, policy shifts affecting international students and post-study work visas could tighten future talent pipelines, especially for industries that rely on these entry points to source skilled staff.
For Australian employers, this means forward planning is more important than ever. With over 25 years of experience in international recruitment and immigration, we specialise in helping businesses stay ahead of change minimising compliance risks, protecting continuity of supply, and securing the skilled people you need to grow.
