Proposed migration cuts in Australia: what Malaysians planning a move should know
News · 2026-10-06 · 3 min read
Malaysians who hope to work in Australia may have seen alarming headlines this week. The cause was the Opposition's migration policy, released on Tuesday 6 October 2026 by the Liberal and National Coalition. Before reacting, it helps to understand exactly what it is. The plan is a proposal. It becomes relevant only if the Coalition wins the next federal election and then carries it out. No part of it is law today, and the visa rules you apply under are unchanged.
Numbers behind the headlines
The Opposition describes its policy as the biggest immigration cut in the nation's history. It promises a focus on skilled migrants, a budget-neutral result, more available homes and less strain on frontline services. Net overseas migration, which is arrivals who stay minus departures, would be pushed down to 100,000 a year for the first two years, then settle near 160,000 in year four. A figure of 100,000 would be the lowest since 2004, leaving the pandemic aside, and close to the long-run level of the late 1990s.
The proposal at a glance
| Area | What is proposed |
|---|---|
| Temporary visa holders | About 650,000 fewer over four years |
| Permanent skilled program | Keeps its cap of 185,000 places a year, with a possible lower cap later so migration stays below the number of homes completed |
| Skilled work visas | A tight focus on the skills Australia needs |
| International students | New commencements reduced to 240,000, and most secondary applicants (family members travelling with the main student) restricted |
| Graduates | Temporary graduate visas abolished, though PhD, health, education and regional university graduates could use post-study transitional visas |
What stays the same for now
The plan alters no visa at present. Caps, rules and processing settings continue as they are until some future government changes them through the usual law-making process. If you apply this year, you apply under this year's rules.
Other parties, other plans
The Labor Government set out its own changes last month. Among them are tougher limits on international students bringing their families, action against visa-hopping, and priority for visas for skilled workers in teaching, construction and agriculture. One Nation, which says it started the whole debate, wants net overseas migration cut by 750,000 over three years. An independent MP spoke against the Coalition plan, warning that it risked importing the fear and division seen in immigration arguments in the United States and parts of Europe.
How Malaysian jobseekers can get ready
Both big parties talk about favouring skills, which makes preparation time well spent. Trades are usually assessed again abroad, so if you hold a Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) or a similar trade qualification, learn how a skills assessment works, for example through Trades Recognition Australia or VETASSESS. Keep certified copies and English translations of documents in Bahasa Malaysia. Request a police clearance from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) only when a visa or employer asks for one, and check whether you need an IELTS or PTE result even if you use English every day.
The official skilled occupation list shows where your work might fit under the rules that apply now. Check again whenever anything official is announced.
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