Could Australia cut migration? What Vietnamese workers should watch in the debate

News · 2026-08-21 · 3 min read

Australia is having a loud debate about migration. Some politicians want fewer migrants. Many employers say the country still needs more workers. If you hope to work in Australia from Vietnam, this debate matters to you. Here is a simple guide.

Two sides, two very different views

Politicians say migration should be tighter. Business leaders say cuts could hurt big projects. Both sides talk about the same workers, but they want different things.

What politicians have suggested

The government is looking at new limits. One idea is to process the families of skilled migrants offshore, not together with the main applicant. In the opposition, one leader suggested small cuts for backpackers and international students. His own colleagues were reportedly surprised, because the wider shadow cabinet had not agreed to it.

A smaller party wants bigger cuts. It would lower the permanent migration program from 185,000 places to about 130,000. It has not said which visas would be cut, except for about 75,000 people it says are in Australia without permission.

What employers say

Employer groups say Australia is already short of staff. They say other countries also want skilled workers, so a less welcoming Australia may lose them. Large building projects, such as the Olympic works in Queensland, need migrant workers.

The mining industry agrees. Its council says it needs around 40,000 more migrant workers over the next three years to keep approved projects moving. It also says the number of overseas workers in the sector has more than doubled since 2021. In Western Australia, leaders say migrant workers are more important than anywhere else in the country.

A quiet change has already happened

Working holiday visa applications are now processed more slowly. A working holiday visa lets young people travel and work for a time. The government has not given a clear reason. Business groups say these workers fill short-term jobs on farms and in regional towns.

The government also said that new protections for workers in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme may have pushed some employers towards backpackers. PALM is a program that brings workers from Pacific countries to Australian jobs.

What should you do now?

No side has shared a full and detailed migration plan yet. This means nothing is final. You do not need to give up on your plans. You can use this time to get ready.

Learn how your Vietnamese certificate or degree may be assessed in Australia. Skills are usually checked again abroad.
Think about an English test, such as IELTS or PTE, if your visa or employer may ask for it.
If a police certificate is requested, a Vietnamese citizen usually applies for the Judicial Record Certificate No. 2 (Phiếu lý lịch tư pháp số 2).
Keep certified English translations of your Vietnamese documents ready.

Stay safe

When news about visas is unclear, scammers take advantage. Deal only with licensed organisations and real employers. Never pay an unlicensed broker. Be careful with anyone who asks for money upfront to secure a job or a visa.

Why leaders disagree

Much of the pressure comes from housing costs. Employers do not ignore this, but they ask leaders to keep housing separate from the question of who will staff roads, mines and regional towns. Keep watching the news, stay calm, and keep your documents ready.

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