Review of Australia’s Migration System Announced

On 2 September 2022, the Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon. Clare O’Neil MP, announced that a comprehensive review of Australia’s migration system will take place to ensure it better meets existing challenges and sets a clear direction for the coming decades. The review will inform a Migration System for Australia’s Future (the Strategy).

The Minister appointed Dr Martin Parkinson AC PSM, Dr Joanna Howe and Mr John Azarias (supported by a dedicated ‘taskforce’) to guide the review that will inform the Strategy. The review will include research, analysis and extensive consultations with government, unions, industry, business, migrant communities, academia and civil societies, state and territory governments and international partners. 

The Strategy will include recommended reforms to Australia’s migration system which the Government will consider. It will not impact eligibility for visas already granted or applications currently under consideration.

Opposition immigration spokesman, Dan Tehan, has publicly welcomed the review and specifically called for an increase in speed of processing visa applications, especially those critical to the Australian economy.  He stated:

“We’ve got to make sure that in doing the review and in looking to streamline the number of visas and the number of subclass visas, that that doesn’t impact the integrity of the system … There’s reasons why the visa subclasses have been put in place, so streamlining, absolutely we support, but maintaining the integrity has to be absolutely central to the task.”