Government limits migration changes to executive orders

• The Australian Government will introduce administrative measures to reduce net overseas migration after cross-party negotiations failed.
• The decision follows a political disagreement regarding legislative controls on temporary visa holders and housing targets.
• The government stated that the policy adjustments aim to align current arrivals with previously outlined federal budget projections.

The Australian Government will introduce new ministerial directions to restrict temporary visa holders after legislative negotiations with the Coalition collapsed.

The government sought to lower net overseas migration from 306,000 people to its target of 245,000 this financial year.

"The best form of outcome there will be is if we are able to sort our way through for a legislative option," said Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke.

The proposed policy changes will rely strictly on executive discretion to limit back-to-back visa applications, which is commonly referred to as visa hopping.

The government stated that processing speeds remain one of the few administrative mechanisms available to manage arrival numbers without new laws.

The administrative push follows earlier decisions to maintain the annual humanitarian intake at 20,000 places.