Australian Immigration News – Latest updates
Major visa cuts, backlogs, and new opportunities revealed at the MIA National Migration Conference
Big changes have just been announced in Australian immigration — including potentially visa quota reductions and major updates straight from the Migration Institute of Australia’s National Migration Conference in Melbourne.
Are your migration plans about to change? Let’s take a closer look at what’s happening.
Migration Quotas and State Nomination – Up to a 30% Cut
The Federal Government has confirmed a total of 185,000 permanent migration places for the 2025–2026 financial year — the same overall number as last year.
However, there’s growing concern that state and territory allocations will be significantly smaller, as the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) continues to face backlogs from unprocessed visa applications.
For example, Western Australia’s Premier Roger Cook is fighting to prevent a reduction from 5,000 to 3,400 skilled migration places. He has formally written to the Federal Government, urging them to reconsider the cuts.
If WA faces a 30% reduction, similar cuts may occur across other states — except for Queensland, which is expected to see an increase after receiving a very small allocation of only 1,200 places last year.
At this stage, only small interim allocations have been released, allowing states to issue a limited number of invitations for Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 visas.
Many states have already published their eligibility criteria for this financial year, and some are already open for Expressions of Interest (EOIs).
A detailed update on each state’s 190 and 491 requirements will be published separately soon.
Deportations and Visa Cancellations
According to several news articles, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that the first transfer to Nauru under a new agreement has taken place, triggering an upfront payment of AUD 408 million. The deal — expected to cost around AUD 2.5 billion — has faced criticism from human rights groups.
Additionally, the government has made headlines by denying entry to certain individuals, including Dutch athlete Steven van de Velde, a convicted child sex offender, under section 501 visa cancellation powers.
Key Takeaways from the MIA National Migration Conference 2025
In early October, the Migration Institute of Australia’s National Migration Conference was held in Melbourne. Chris Johnston from Work Visa Lawyers attended the event alongside our lawyer Shamsiya Mohammadi, gathering valuable insights about the government’s direction in migration policy.
Visa Processing and Backlogs
According to Damien Kilner from the Department of Home Affairs, the backlog of pending visa applications remains a serious challenge.
As of October 2025, there are:
- 58,000 pending Subclass 186 Employer-Sponsored Visa applications, compared to an annual target of 44,000 places.
- 98,000 pending Partner Visa applications, with an annual target of 40,500.
This means that the partner visa backlog is growing by approximately 25,000 applications per year, and without major reform, waiting times could extend to five years or more.
DAMA Update – More Regional Flexibility Ahead
The Department of Home Affairs confirmed that it favours full-state DAMA agreements rather than fragmented regional ones.
This suggests that:
- Tasmania may soon receive its own state-wide DAMA.
- Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria could move toward full-state DAMAs, replacing the current patchwork approach with more consistent coverage.
This would provide greater flexibility for employers in regional areas to sponsor overseas workers under the Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) program.
Political Debate: Labour vs. Liberal on Migration Policy
The conference also featured a lively political debate between Labour and Liberal representatives.
Julian Hill MP, Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, spoke about rebuilding a coherent migration system after years of inconsistent policies and underinvestment.
Hill confirmed that net overseas migration has fallen by more than 40%, returning to pre-COVID levels, and emphasised the economic importance of international students, who support over 250,000 Australian jobs.
He stated:
“Australia is not facing mass migration — our borders remain tightly controlled.”
Hill also criticised the opposition, saying the Liberals were:
“Both terrified of yet cuddling up to One Nation, calling for ‘massive cuts’ to migration, but never saying how or where that should occur.”
In response, Liberal Senator Paul Scarr, Shadow Minister for Immigration, took a more measured stance.
He argued that:
“Our immigration policy must be in our national interest. But, more than that, the debate in relation to immigration policy must be conducted in a way which is also in our national interest — it must not seek to inflame emotion.”
Scarr called for:
- Greater transparency in the migration program.
- A return to multi-year migration planning (which has not been reintroduced).
- Faster processing times for the new Skills in Demand (SID) 482 visa, which are currently exceeding expectations.
While both sides of politics offered valid points, the ongoing lack of certainty and predictability continues to affect Australian businesses and regional employers struggling with skill shortages — as well as visa applicants themselves seeking confidence in the system.
Where Are the Opportunities for Applicants?
Despite the cuts and backlogs, there are still strong opportunities in key sectors.
Under Ministerial Direction 105, healthcare professionals and teachers are being prioritised for skilled visa processing.
The federal and state governments are also prioritising construction workers and tradespeople due the house crises.
For those outside these priority sectors, employer sponsorship or partner visas may be the most practical migration pathways.
Check out our blog “How to find a sponsor”.
Rising Interest from U.S. Citizens
There has been a noticeable increase in protection visa applications from U.S. citizens between August 2024 and July 2025, according to Department of Home Affairs data.
Work Visa Lawyers has also assisted many U.S. citizens applying for partner visas, reflecting a growing interest in migration pathways to Australia from the United States.
National Innovation Visa Granted – Critical Technology
The new National Innovation Visa (NIV) continues to show promising results.
In October, Work Visa Lawyers successfully obtained a National Innovation Visa grant for a client working in critical technologies (cyber security).
The processing time was impressively fast, the visa was lodged in August and granted in October, taking just two months.
If you are a global talent or entrepreneur working in high-tech or innovation sectors, you may be eligible for this visa.
You can check your eligibility with our Free NIV Assessment on the Work Visa Lawyers website.
What to Expect Next?
Australia’s migration landscape is shifting rapidly, with significant cuts to state allocations, extended processing delays, and increasing political debate about migration levels.
While there is uncertainty, opportunities remain strong in healthcare, education, construction, and technology sectors.
At Work Visa Lawyers, we continue to monitor all official updates from the Department of Home Affairs and state and territory governments.
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Applying for an Australian Visa
If you want to discuss your specific situation or visa options, please book an appointment with one of our lawyers.
Our experienced team of immigration lawyers and registered migration agents can guide you through your best options.
Contact Work Visa Lawyers today to book a consultation and get personalised advice for your visa pathway.
