Australia’s centre-left Labor government is tightening international student, working holiday and visitor visa rules as it seeks to reduce annual net overseas migration to 225,000 by 2028, from about 300,000 currently and 306,000 in the year to June 30, 2025. Most international students will no longer be allowed to bring family members, subject to exemptions for Pacific island and ASEAN applicants and some doctoral students. Random selection will govern second- and third-year working holiday extensions, capped at 45,000 and 5,000 respectively, compared with 57,000 and 31,000 granted last year. Farm groups warn processing times of up to three months could leave crops unharvested, while visitors will face a no-further-stay condition preventing extensions. Business leaders also warn tighter migration rules could worsen labor shortages across the economy.