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Australia has announced plans to halve immigrations levels within two years in a bid to fix a “broken” system.<\/p>\n
Its government says it wants to reduce the annual intake to 250,000 people by June 2025. This would roughly be the level it was pre-pandemic.<\/p>\n
Under new plans from the Australian government, rules for international students and low-skilled workers would be tightened. Politicians are concerned record levels of immigration has created pressure on the housing system and infrastructure, reports the BBC.<\/p>\n
There does however continue to be a shortage of skilled workers moving to Australia. Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil unveiled the new 10-year strategy on Monday.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: <\/strong> Obesity and increase in older mums could have led to increase in C-sections<\/strong><\/p>\n She said the system had been “left in tatters” by previous administrations. While a review earlier this year said the system was “badly broken” and in need of “major reform”.<\/p>\n In the year leading to June 2023, a record 510,000 people migrated to Australia. O’Neil said the government needed to “bring numbers back under control”.<\/p>\n New measures set to be introduced include tougher English-language requirements for foreign students and more strutiny for people applying for a second visa – they will have to prove further study would advance their academic aspirations or their future careers.<\/p>\n Current data suggests there are around 650,000 foreign students in Australia. Many of them are on a second visa, says official statistics.<\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> Tories must unite behind Rishi Sunak, says Michael Howard<\/strong><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/78\/590x\/secondary\/5108699.jpg?r=1702273392933\")
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