Shock immigration figure exposes 30 per cent of graduate visas are not going to students in Australia

By NICHOLAS COMINO, POLITICAL REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 04:53, 9 August 2026 | Updated: 04:54, 9 August 2026 Startling immigration figures have revealed almost 30 per cent of graduate visas belong to family members who have never studied in Australia.  Around 73,900 of the 271,191 temporary graduate visas have gone to secondary applicants, including spouses and dependent children. The figure marks a 204 per cent uptick on the 24,200 recorded in June 2022.  The visas are normally granted to students and allow them to stay in Australia after graduating.  The numbers come after Monash University higher education expert Andrew Norton analysed Department of Home Affairs data for the Daily Telegraph. The figures are likely to fuel debate over migration settings as Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke prepares to unveil Labor's new approach to immigration in a major speech expected within the next fortnight. Despite mounting concern over housing affordability, rental shortages and infrastructure pressures, the Albanese government has decided against lowering its long-term migration target. It is understood that Labor will retain its net overseas migration target of 225,000 people a year.  Labor is expected to announce an overhaul of migration policies in the next fortnight  The 2026 federal budget projected migration would moderate to 225,000 a year from 2027, but the government's forecasts have repeatedly been exceeded, with net overseas migration hitting 301,000 in the latest year.  Rather than focusing on cutting migration further, the government's new approach is expected to centre on better matching population growth with housing supply, infrastructure investment and essential services. That position has become increasingly difficult as scrutiny intensifies on visa categories that continue to drive population growth long after students arrive in Australia. Under current rules, international students studying university degrees or vocational courses can bring immediate family members with them to Australia.  Those family members are granted the same work rights as the primary visa holder. After graduating, students can then transition onto a temporary graduate visa, allowing both themselves and their families to remain in Australia while they gain work experience. The pathway expanded rapidly following the reopening of international borders after Covid, when student visa grants surged to record levels.  More than 577,000 student visas were granted in 2022-23, creating a wave of graduates who have subsequently moved onto post-study visa arrangements. Almost 74,000 family members are living in Australia on graduate visas of their relatives Home Affairs data shows the number of temporary graduate visa holders has increased by 174 per cent since Labor won office in 2022.  Mr Norton said the graduate visas were popular as students looked for ways to stay in the country. 'The labour market has become addicted to temporary visa holders for lots of jobs,' he said. The growing number of family members attached to graduate visas has caught the attention of One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, who is pushing for a significant tightening of the rules. Hanson earlier this week called for secondary applicants to be removed entirely from temporary graduate visas and has also called for undergraduate international students to be prevented from bringing family members to Australia while studying. Burke's speech was initially scheduled for last week at the National Press Club before being postponed amid unresolved cabinet discussions while Albanese was on leave.  The Prime Minister is expected to return to cabinet deliberations on Monday as the government finalises its immigration agenda.