Australia
One Nation MP open to cutting citizen family visas
One Nation MP David Farley has flagged potential cuts to family visas for Australian citizens following a new skilled migration policy.
One Nation member of parliament David Farley has indicated he is open to reducing the number of visas granted to the family members of Australian citizens, according to a wire report.
The comment follows a formal policy announcement from the party, which has proposed to ban temporary skilled migrants from bringing their spouses and children with them to Australia.
When questioned on the scope of the immigration policy, Mr Farley did not rule out extending migration restrictions to the relatives of permanent Australian citizens. He stated he was open to cutting family visa numbers, indicating that the party's platform could target family reunion pathways alongside skilled migration.
Under current Australian migration rules, citizens can sponsor family members, including partners, children and parents, to live in the country. One Nation has historically campaigned for lower immigration levels, arguing that population growth strains infrastructure and housing.
At this stage, specific details regarding which visa subclasses would be targeted or how much the intake would be cut remain unconfirmed. The party has not released a detailed breakdown of the proposed policy, nor is it known how the plan would impact existing visa applications currently in the processing pipeline.
The announcement has already sparked debate among migration experts and community groups, who argue that restricting family reunions could make Australia a less attractive destination for global talent. Conversely, proponents of lower migration argue that any reduction in intake will help ease the current national housing crisis.
All eyes will now be on federal parliament to see if One Nation introduces specific legislative proposals on family visas during the next sitting week.
This report draws on original reporting by Wire report.
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