Another Round of Migration Changes?
ASSISTANT MINISTER: CABINET TO CONSIDER THE PACKAGE WITHIN DAYS
On 17 August, the Home Affairs ministers' website published an interview.
The Assistant Minister's line was simple:
the policy sits with Cabinet, and "once it's finalised, it will be announced".
The policy is still inside this building | Source: Pexels
01／What the minister said
On 17 August 2026, the Ministers for the Department of Home Affairs website published the transcript of an interview given by the Assistant Minister for Immigration, Matt Thistlethwaite, on the First Edition program. The question put to him was blunt: would Immigration Minister Tony Burke be releasing the latest numbers and the government's latest policy position this week, or next?
The Assistant Minister's page on the Home Affairs ministers' website
Thistlethwaite's answer had three layers. First, the government wants to make sure it meets the Budget commitments on net overseas migration and permanent migration. Second, changes have already been made to student visas, and to the processing and priority of skilled and family visas, all of which have helped bring net overseas migration down. Third, and most importantly: the policy is currently being worked on by Cabinet, with Burke and other ministers involved, it will be considered by Cabinet in the coming days, and once it is finalised, it will be announced.
Extract from the interview transcript (ministers' website, published 17 August 2026)
02／What the media is reporting
Even before this interview, Australian media had been circling the next round of changes. According to The Guardian's report of 6 August, the potential measures could touch family visas, the Working Holiday Maker program, and certain asylum-related policies. One thing must be stressed: Minister Burke's office has not formally confirmed any of this, and none of it should be treated as settled policy.
Labor sources quoted by The Guardian suggested the outside world may be over-reading the coming changes: what is more likely is a set of targeted, surgical adjustments across several parts of the migration system, including stronger enforcement of existing rules and small pruning of various programs, rather than a wholesale overhaul of work, family or humanitarian visas.
Until the policy lands, the queue moves as normal | Source: Pexels
03／How applicants should read this
On the information publicly available, only one thing can be said with confidence: the federal government is still working on the next stage of migration policy, the package sits with Cabinet, and it is not yet final.
For those preparing or having already lodged a visa application, our advice is this: do not over-read information from unofficial channels at this stage, and do not change your own application plans because of it. The final policy will be whatever the Australian Government and the Department of Home Affairs formally publish in law, policy and official documents. We are watching closely, and will break down the changes as soon as they are officially announced.
Headlines run ahead. Policy does not.
Until the official documents land,
do not redraw your plans around other people's guesses.
Sun Lawyers · Sydney Office
This article reflects a general summary and analysis of publicly available material as at 21 August 2026. If you are preparing or have lodged a visa application and want to understand how the possible changes may affect your case, contact Sun Lawyers. We work in both English and Mandarin.
Phone: 02 9267 4988 ｜ Email: enquiry@sunlaws.com
Sydney Office: Suite 703 & 704, 265 Castlereagh Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Website: sunlaws.com.au
This article is general legal information only and is not legal advice.
Please contact us for advice specific to your situation.