Australia to ban student dependants as Labor fends off far-right pressure

Australia is set to introduce sweeping changes to its immigration policy by barring international students from bringing dependants, in a bid to ease housing pressures and fend off a growing political challenge from the far-right.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke will announce the measures at the National Press Club in Canberra on Thursday, outlining plans to trim net overseas migration from 300,000 to 225,000 by 2028.

The issuance of temporary residence permits would also be reduced to curb “visa hopping” and ensure migrants leave Australia once their visas expire, according to national broadcaster ABC.