Western Australia Pushes Back Against Federal Plan to Slash Skilled-Migration Quota
Jetstar Unveils First-Ever Sunshine Coast–Bali Route With Singapore Connections
Home Affairs Launches Online Immigration Status Resolution Service; First ACT Clinic Held 6 November
Latest News
Darwin Hosts Information Session on Northern Territory Skilled-Migration Pathways
An NT Government roadshow kicked off in Darwin on 6 November, detailing relaxed visa settings under GSM and DAMA III to help Territory employers recruit overseas talent. The measures create new options for mobility teams needing staff in Australia’s north.
Qantas Launches ‘Red Tail’ Sale—One Million Domestic Seats From A$99
Qantas’ week-long Red Tail Sale offers one million discounted seats from A$99, providing corporate travellers and relocation teams a rare chance to trim 2026 domestic travel budgets.
Qantas Issues Commercial Policy for Lord Howe Island Connections, Effective 6 November
Qantas published a 6 November commercial policy giving travellers ticketed to or from Lord Howe Island flexibility to rebook, credit or refund after the airline lengthened minimum connection times and changed flight numbers.
Record 2.9 Million Temporary Visa Holders in Australia, New ABS Figures Show
Home Affairs data analysed on 5 November 2025 shows 2.90 million temporary visa holders in Australia—a record high driven by students and working-holiday makers. While the figures help ease labour shortages, they also intensify housing demand and compliance obligations for employers.
China Extends 30-Day Visa-Free Entry for Australians Until End-2026
Beijing has prolonged its 30-day visa-free policy for Australians and 44 other nationalities to 31 December 2026, effective 10 November 2025. The extension streamlines business and leisure travel, supporting Australia–China commercial engagement and offering cost and time savings for corporate travellers.
New Zealand Opens Door to Chinese and Pacific Nationals Travelling From Australia Without Visas
In a year-long pilot starting 3 November 2025, Chinese and Pacific Island nationals flying from Australia to New Zealand can enter with just an NZeTA instead of a visitor visa. The move trims red tape for trans-Tasman itineraries and could serve as a template for wider Pacific mobility schemes.
Canberra Responds to Senate on Pacific Engagement Visa Bills, Signals 2026 Roll-Out
Home Affairs has issued its reply to a Senate report on legislation underpinning the Pacific Engagement Visa, confirming a July 2026 launch and preserving a low AUD 25 ballot fee. The response clarifies sponsorship timelines and settlement supports, giving Australian employers a clearer picture of a new talent pipeline from the Pacific.
Parliamentary Committee Backs Stronger Oversight Bill Covering Home Affairs and Border Agencies
A parliamentary committee has thrown its support behind the SONIC Bill, which extends oversight to Home Affairs’ intelligence functions and, by extension, the data systems underpinning Australia’s visa and border-control programs. Greater transparency could shape how biometric and algorithmic screening is deployed at airports from 2026.