New report urges Australian government to focus on temporary visas as migration debate heats up on Sunrise

A new report has found 1.2 million temporary visa holders, including international students and tourists, have settled in Australia since the pandemic.

The Australian Population Research Institute report recommended the Coalition consider cutting those who have overstayed their visas as they form their migration policies and shifting the debate focus from permanent visas to temporary ones.

Health Minister Mark Butler defended the government’s approach, saying net migration numbers are down about 40 per cent since the post-COVID peak when people returned to Australia.

“We’re looking to control our education intake as well, but balance that against what we need as an economy, as a society,” Butler told Sunrise on Friday morning.

He highlighted the importance of international students to key sectors, particularly aged care and disability services.

“If you go to an aged care facility or if you look at people who are being supported with a disability out in the community, so many of them are international students who are supporting their education with part-time work in those sectors,” Butler said.

Liberal Senator Jane Hume criticised Labor’s management of migration, pointing to “a million new migrants over a two-year period” — 70 per cent higher than any previous two-year period.

“That puts pressure on our infrastructure, on our healthcare systems and on our housing,” Hume said.

She noted about 10,000 temporary visa holders claimed refugee status after their visas expired last year, entering a lengthy appeals process.

“We need to make sure that we bring in the skills that we need. Fewer yoga teachers and goat farmers and more construction workers and doctors and engineers,” Hume said.

The Coalition will announce the principles of their immigration policy in coming weeks, with Shadow Immigration Minister Dan Tehan working on the details.

Butler acknowledged the challenge of balancing migration needs against infrastructure pressures, noting strong job growth and low unemployment alongside worker shortages in construction and aged care.