CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
Tony Burke MP has taken to the stage at the National Press Club in Canberra today, in his capacity as the Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration tasked with announced tough new changes to visa rules.
The speech is titled: “The work of managing the migration program: who arrives, who stays, who leaves.”
It’s been more than a month since Labor’s original announcement was delayed due to last minute changes.
Immigration, the number one political issue that has been forced upon Australians by a slow news cycle and mega-majority government that faces very little chance of being ousted from power at the next election.
As the major parties continue to spiral over the competitive back and forth on immigration policies that nobody asked for except the 1% of the population who bombard social media comments with their own cultural anxieties, today's immigration announcement is timed to coincide with the Australian Bureau of Statistics fresh migration data later which will be released later today.
The government's long-awaited policy overhaul will focus on stronger enforcement of current immigration processes, rather than new laws or slashed intake targets - as much as that would make rednecks feel warm and fuzzy.
With Australian voters feeling increasingly powerless both economically and politically in the miserable and financially distressing years since the pandemic lockdowns, a drastic decrease in immigration numbers would leave the people feeling like they at least have to power to slightly influence government policy.
However, Burke's announcement today will likely disappoint, as he begins immediately using extremely complicated political jargon that will not likely make for the populist headlines everyone craves.
The proposed changes, which are aimed at helping achieve net overseas migration targets, are focusing on the boring stuff like visa-hoppers, overstayers, and international students bringing family.
This address will likely upset both the hardline rednecks and the bleeding heart no-flag-no-borders type lefties.
However, Burke has been quick to announce one clarificaiton that everyone will be happy with.
"The filos are gonna be fine" he said.
"I made sure of that. In fact, we'll be taking in more of them... That's if they wanna move here"
