Throughout the nation, hundreds joined the latest March for Australia protests, voicing frustration about housing shortages, cost-of-living pressures, and stretched providers. These are actual and legit issues, and common Australians are proper to demand motion.
However amid this frustration, a deceptive and harmful narrative is taking maintain: that migrants are accountable for these systemic challenges. This narrative will not be solely inaccurate—it dangers being hijacked by extremist teams, as was evident when neo-Nazis appeared on the rallies.
As Australian Monetary Evaluation political editor Phillip Coorey famous in his 1 September 2025 column, many protestors had been “so-called ‘center Australians’ with authentic issues… what they understand to be an unsustainable charge of inhabitants development… placing housing even additional out of attain, pushing providers to breaking level and decreasing individuals’s amenity.” These frustrations deserve acknowledgment. However scapegoating migrants will not be the answer.
Let’s take a look at some information.
Fantasy 1: “Immigrants are driving up home costs”
Actuality: Rich traders and tax coverage are the culprits.
Economist Matt Grudnoff from The Australia Institute factors out that over the previous decade, Australia’s housing inventory has grown by 19%, whereas the inhabitants grew by solely 16%. In different phrases, there are extra houses per capita than earlier than.
The issue lies in how our tax system incentivises property traders to build up housing inventory—usually retaining properties vacant—whereas having fun with beneficiant tax breaks.
“The issue of housing affordability will not be too many migrants, however too many tax breaks for traders.” – Matt Grudnoff
Fantasy 2: “Immigrants are taking our jobs”
Actuality: There are extra jobs than unemployed individuals.
Even with unemployment ticking as much as 4.2%, Australia stays in a tight labour market. As Coorey explains, governments have leaned on immigration to assist development for many years, however the jobs challenge isn’t about migrants—it’s about productiveness and coverage reform.
Most migrants arriving on everlasting visas are expert employees, particularly introduced in to fill crucial shortages in well being, aged care, engineering, IT, and infrastructure. These aren’t jobs being taken away from Australians; they’re roles important to retaining the financial system and providers operating.
Cheek Media summarises it clearly: “Anti-migrant rhetoric ignores the truth that these pressures are reflective of worldwide financial tendencies. This isn’t the fault of migrants.”
Fantasy 3: “Immigration is worsening the price of residing”
Actuality: Migrants are important to Australia’s prosperity.
Migrants don’t management rates of interest, grocery store costs, or vitality payments. However they do contribute as taxpayers and employees, serving to offset Australia’s demographic challenges.
With a fertility charge of 1.5 births per girl (effectively under the alternative charge of two.1), Australia faces a shrinking working-age inhabitants. With out immigration, we’d face labour shortages, weaker financial development, and elevated pressure on providers.
As Cheek Media highlights: “Immigrants are important to Australia’s financial prosperity.”
Fantasy 4: “Australia is experiencing an immigration surge”
Actuality: Internet abroad migration is falling.
Sure, migration peaked in 2023 with 340,750 individuals, largely because of the backlog from COVID-era border closures. However each the AFR and Cheek Media verify that internet abroad migration has since fallen by round 100,000 per yr, and specialists anticipate additional declines.
“Whereas the NOM is falling nearer to pre-COVID ranges,” writes Coorey, “it’s this surge that has primarily pushed heightened issues about immigration, given it has coincided with the housing disaster.”
The 2023 spike was momentary, not a long-term surge.
The Extremism Danger: When Frustration Turns into Exploited
Multicultural Affairs Minister Anne Aly informed the ABC:
“These marches had been a con by the far-right neo-Nazis to prey on some authentic issues round housing and round price of residing with a view to propagate their anti-immigration, racist agenda.”
Opposition immigration spokesman Paul Scarr echoed this, warning that perceptions of presidency inaction permit extremist narratives to achieve traction.
That is the chance we face: common Australians with actual issues being misled by simplistic blame-shifting that fuels division as a substitute of driving options.
What You Have to Know: Migration Ranges Aren’t Altering
On 1 September, Dwelling Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that the 2025–26 Everlasting Migration Program will stay at 185,000 locations, unchanged from 2024–25.
- This system will proceed to give attention to expert migration.
- The Division of Dwelling Affairs has already been processing visas at this stage, that means no disruption for candidates.
For potential migrants and the companies that depend upon them, this implies stability and readability.
Last Thought: Smarter Coverage, Not Smaller Pondering
Common Australians are doing it robust, and their frustrations are actual. However blaming migrants is not going to remedy housing shortages, wage stagnation, or stretched infrastructure.
The information present that migrants are a part of the answer: contributing expertise, taxes, and vitality to a rustic that wants them. What is required is smarter planning, tax reform, and funding in providers—not scapegoating.
At Bravo Migration, we stand for information, equity, and a extra considerate nationwide dialog.
If you happen to’re contemplating making use of underneath the 2025–26 Migration Program, our workforce is right here to supply trusted recommendation and assist each step of the way in which.
Ebook a Free Discovery Name
Particular thanks for Cheek Media for sharing stats and information
2) ACT Migration Program 2025-26: Key Developments on Essential Ability Lists, Pointers, and Nominations
The 2025-26 program yr marks a transition part for the ACT Migration Program, with a number of reassessments and updates alongside the way in which. From reviewing new pointers, introduction of latest digital methods and updates on particular visa pathways, each migrants and migration brokers have to be prepared for a safe and improved migration course of.
The evaluation of ACT Essential Expertise Listing is the earliest anticipated key changes for the 2025-26 program yr. Any adjustments are prone to take impact forward of the primary invitation spherical, which implies the listing might have an effect on potential candidates which are eligible for nomination. We greatest advise that candidates should preserve an in depth eye on the ACT Migration for up to date updates.
Then again, the ACT Nomination Pointers are additionally underneath evaluation, guaranteeing to proceed to replicate the financial wants of ACT. For this reassessment, they are going to be wanting into earnings thresholds and refining pathways akin to Small Enterprise Proprietor, Subclass 482 Expertise in Demand Visa, Doctorate Streamlined and ACT Essential Expertise.
These adjustments are anticipated to take impact by early 2026. This may increasingly or might not have an effect on the purposes which have already been lodged by way of the Canberra Matrix system relying on when and the way the updates are launched.
The introduction of the brand new Canberra Matrix and software portal is among the vital developments for this program yr. Designed to be safer and user-friendly, it intends to ease the method for migrants in search of ACT Nomination or Regional Certifying Physique Assist.
(Please notice that this may occasionally briefly have an effect on the frequency of invitation rounds for this yr, with full implementation anticipated by program yr 2026-27. As well as, the appliance price schedule can be at present underneath evaluation.)
The primary invitation spherical for the 2025-26 program yr stays unannounced, as ACT migration is ready for the Depart of Dwelling Affairs to substantiate the ultimate allocation of nomination locations. As soon as introduced, there could also be a brief delay earlier than the primary spherical begins.
Afterwards, invitation rounds are anticipated to run month-to-month (excluding December) till all nomination locations are crammed.
(Observe: Nomination locations could possibly be crammed sooner than ordinary because of the implementation of the brand new portal.)
The Doctorate Streamlined Nomination Pathway stays unaffected, with eligible candidates constantly receiving invites inside seven working days.
As of July 2024, the Division of Dwelling Affairs completely closed the Enterprise Innovation and Funding Program (BIIP). Accordingly, ACT Migration is not accepting new Subclass 188 visa nominations for 2025–26. Nominations for the everlasting Subclass 888 visa, nevertheless, proceed to be processed.
One other key change issues the Subclass 858 Nationwide Innovation Visa (NIV), previously generally known as the World Expertise Visa. It is a everlasting visa for people with an internationally acknowledged report of remarkable and excellent achievements who can contribute to productiveness and innovation in key sectors.
The ACT Authorities is at present reviewing handle nominations underneath this program. Thus, nominations nor Expressions of Curiosity aren’t but open. As soon as determined, additional particulars will probably be shared on the ACT Migration web site.
Lastly, ACT Migration continues to course of nominations inside three weeks. Candidates ought to notice that:
- Nominations accredited after 1 July 2025 will solely be added to SkillSelect as soon as allocations are confirmed
- Present assessments observe the 2024–25 Dwelling Affairs standards. If these change earlier than allocations are finalised, some EOIs might not qualify ACT nomination necessities. (In such instances, candidates affected will probably be notified promptly.)
- Candidates should notify ACT Migration if there are any up to date paperwork, factors, or claims, as they may have an effect on the end result of your software.
As reassessments and new initiatives are launched, the 2025-26 program yr is a interval of transition with an intent to construct a safer migration system. Right now, candidates should anticipate and put together for potential adjustments at brief discover.
For potential candidates contemplating ACT Nomination ought to often test the ACT Migration web site to remain up to date. If you happen to’re exploring your visa choices, Bravo Migration is right here to help and information you thru each stage of your software.
