← All posts

Australia's Opposition Wants Fewer Migrants: What Indonesian Workers Should Know

News · 2026-10-06 · 3 min read

Are you hoping to work in Australia from Indonesia? You may have seen news about big migration cuts. Here is a simple guide. The most important point comes first: this is a plan from the Opposition. It is not a new law.

Who made the announcement?

On 6 October 2026, the Liberal and National Coalition shared its migration policy. The Coalition is the federal Opposition in Australia. It is not the government. Its plan would only begin if it wins the next federal election and then changes the rules. Today, nothing is different. The visa rules you read about last week are still the rules this week.

The main numbers, made simple

"Net overseas migration" means the people who come to live in Australia minus the people who leave. The Coalition says:

• This number would be 100,000 a year in its first two years.
• It would then rise to about 160,000 in year four.
• About 650,000 fewer temporary visa holders would be in Australia after four years.
• The permanent skilled migration program would keep its limit of 185,000 places a year.

The party says 100,000 would be the lowest figure since 2004, if you do not count the pandemic. It calls the package the largest cut to immigration Australia has ever had.

Why does the Coalition want this?

The party gives four reasons. It wants to choose migrants with skills Australia needs. It says the plan will not cost the budget extra money. It says fewer arrivals would free up homes. It also says frontline services would feel less pressure. Later, the 185,000 limit could be made smaller if needed, so that migration stays under the number of new homes built.

What about skilled workers?

Under the plan, skilled work visas would focus closely on the jobs Australia is short of. This matters if you are a tradesperson or another kind of skilled worker. The plan also has changes for students, such as cutting new international student enrolments to 240,000. We explain the student side in another article.

Other plans in the news

The Coalition is not the only party talking about migration. Last month the Labor Government announced its own changes. These include making it harder for students to bring family, stopping visa-hopping, and putting skilled workers in teaching, construction and agriculture first. One Nation wants to cut net overseas migration by 750,000 over three years. We do not support any party. We just want you to have clear facts.

What can you do now?

Keep going with your plans under today's rules. Good preparation helps in any future system:

• Write your CV in English and keep it up to date.
• Take IELTS or PTE if your visa or employer asks for an English test.
• If a police certificate is requested, apply for an SKCK from the Indonesian National Police.
• Get Indonesian-language documents translated into English as the visa rules require.

Watch for official news from the Australian Government. If the Coalition wins and changes the law, the details will be shared then. Until that day, jobs in Australia for Indonesians follow the current visa system.

Big policy news often brings fake offers that promise to beat the new rules. Learn how Indonesian workers can spot a job scam before paying anything.

#work in australia from indonesia #migration news #opposition plan #temporary visas #indonesian workers