Australian Nationalist Party proposes to cut 750 thousand temporary visas

Political formation, which won its first seat in the House of Representatives in May, advocates limiting student visas to just over 100,000 per year — about a third of the present value — and creating a new category for students considered “high value”, similar to so-called “genius visas” promoted by the American President Donald Trump.

The plan also plans to reduce from 270 thousand to 40,000 vacancies for international graduates who want to stay in Australia to work after studies. Family members of students and skilled workers would no longer have access to visas, although the party admits exceptions in some cases.

Founded in 1997 by Senator Pauline Hanson, who continues to lead the training, One Nation advocates severe restrictions on immigration, rejects ambitious multiculturalism and climate policies, and promotes a superb and anti-elite speech.

Currently has six representatives in the federal parliament: two in the House of Representatives and four in the Senate.

According to Hanson, the proposal sets a ceiling of 130 thousand annual migrants, reviewed every year, with the aim of reaching 2017 levels and even a “negative net migration”, that is, more outputs than entries.

Australia, historically marked by immigration, saw the population grow from about two million in 1880 to 28 million today. Immigration intensified after World War II and increased again since the beginning of the century, driven mainly by temporary visas.

Migration has reached a record of 518 thousand people between 2022 and 2023, although the average of the last five years is 280,000 annuals, according to ABS.

The Government of Labour Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also prepares a more moderate migration reform, whose details are not yet known, but which may affect visas that allow young foreigners to travel and work temporarily in the country.