ABS data shows net overseas migration falls to 301,000 as debate over future caps intensifies
Major parties unveil sharply different migration platforms ahead of spring sittings
ABS TableBuilder NOM micro-data goes live, giving employers granular insight into visa cohorts
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Goldfields employers face 19 June deadline to lodge DAMA agreements before scheme shifts to WA-wide model
Goldfields businesses have until 19 June 2026 to lodge labour-agreement requests under the region’s DAMA before it merges into the WA DAMA on 1 July. Missing the deadline means re-applying under new criteria, potentially delaying critical skilled-worker deployments to remote mining and hospitality projects.
ABS data confirm arrivals now below 2019 levels
Guardian analysis of ABS data released on 18 June shows arrivals fell to 563,500 in 2025, taking net migration to 301,000 – below 2019 numbers. With demand cooling, Home Affairs is redeploying staff from volume processing to compliance. Employers can expect quicker decisions on priority visas but tougher audits.
AFP Arrests Pilot Alleged to Have Flown ‘Black Flight’ Smuggling Fugitives out of Australia
A Brisbane pilot was arrested at Brisbane Airport on 18 June 2026 for allegedly flying a clandestine ‘black flight’ that smuggled two fugitives from Queensland to Indonesia. The AFP-led investigation highlights gaps in private-aviation oversight; the suspect faces up to 20 years in jail. Mobility teams should ensure charter providers meet new flight-notification rules.
Humanitarian Community Support Program capped under new regulations
Regulations signed on 18 June impose annual caps on community-sponsored humanitarian visas and let applicants change sponsoring organisations mid-process. Employers using the Community Support Program will need to reserve quota space early and watch for future co-contribution requirements.
Qantas quietly scraps standalone First Lounge plan for London Heathrow
Australian Frequent Flyer reports Qantas has shelved a purpose-built First Lounge at Heathrow in favour of refurbishing its existing facility, with staged works running until late 2026. The move, linked to Airbus delivery delays and terminal-allocation uncertainty, will temporarily reduce premium capacity just as Project Sunrise nonstop London flights approach.