Immigration issues

Immigration issues

Make sense of Australia’s migration policies, with news reports and interviews about visas, citizenship, passports and more from the SBS News team.

Episodes

Support for multiculturalism is declining. Why is that so?

June 23, 2026 • 9 mins
A new report by the Lowy Institute reveals support for multiculturalism in Australia has plunged in the past two years. A recent poll has linked a decline in support for both current migration levels and multiculturalism, which coincides with growing fears about economic and social safety.

A new report by the Lowy Institute reveals support for multiculturalism in Australia has plunged in the past two years.

A recent p...
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As Australia celebrates one million refugees, some employers are stepping up offering jobs and training

June 19, 2026 • 7 mins
This week, Australia celebrates the one million refugees who’ve made a home here since the end of World War Two. While some employers are offering new jobs and training, there are also calls to cut the refugee intake and some initiatives are at risk.
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NSW’s first Migrant Workers Centre opens in Sydney

May 21, 2026 • 4 mins
The New South Wales government has unveiled the state's first Migrant Workers Centre to support temporary visa holders. It means migrant workers in Sydney now have a dedicated hub to seek help over work exploitation. It’s backed by $6.5 million in state funding over the next four years to provide workplace, safety and immigration support to vulnerable migrants across the state.
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Strong backlash as Angus Taylor unveils Coalition’s controversial immigration policy

April 14, 2026 • 7 mins
Opposition leader Angus Taylor has outlined the Coalition's new hardline immigration policy. The plan has drawn widespread criticism and strong condemnation from critics, including Labor and human rights groups.
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Darwin multicultural walking group connecting migrants one step at a time

April 11, 2026 • 3 mins
A local program in Darwin is helping refugees and new migrants connect with their community, while building life-long friendships. The walking group may be simple, but organisers say at a time when more people are facing conflict and displacement, the initiative provides a welcome escape.
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New website and app to safeguard international students in Australia

February 25, 2026 • 4 mins
For international students studying in Australia, accessing healthcare is often seen as too expensive - or too confusing to navigate. But a new initiative - designed by international students FOR international students - aims to make services easier to find, while breaking down taboos around sexual and mental health.
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‘Are our loved ones alive or not?’ A distressing start to the academic year for these international students

February 6, 2026 • 5 mins
University students in Australia, including more than 800,000 from overseas, are preparing for a new academic year. However, many from Iran are facing financial hardship while also grieving lives lost during recent protests.
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Nationwide protests against ICE sweep across United States

January 11, 2026 • 3 mins
At least 29 people have been arrested in Minneapolis during ongoing protests over the fatal shooting of a US citizen by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent. The killing of Renee Good has sparked demonstrations across the country, while further confrontations with ICE agents have been filmed.
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Tensions deepen across the US over fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis

January 8, 2026 • 5 mins
Tensions between Minnesota and federal officials have deepened over a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer's fatal shooting of a woman in the city of Minneapolis. Protesters have clashed with law enforcement in the city, the day after the US citizen was killed by ICE agents.
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Venezuelans in Australia respond as events unfold

January 5, 2026 • 6 mins
Events in Venezuela have stirred emotion among the Latin American diaspora in Australia. In Sydney and Melbourne, Venezuelans are gathering in streets and community spaces as developments unfold.
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'I wish I was a dog in Australia': Muhammad's story as UN probes immigration detention

December 1, 2025 • 9 mins
Australia's immigration detention regime is under United Nations scrutiny this week. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention is examining how the country deprives people of their liberty — from prisons to offshore detention facilities. And for people like Muhammad, who spent six years in detention, this review is one that's long overdue.
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INTERVIEW: Associate Professor Bassina Farbenblum

November 22, 2025 • 9 mins
As thousands of international students prepare to take summer holiday jobs, Associate Professor Bassina Farbenblum, an expert on migrants' rights from the University of New South Wales, warns that more is needed to protect students from wage theft and abuse. She says Australia has a ‘pervasive problem’ with workplace exploitation of international students and those on temporary visas. Dr Farbenblum is speaking to SBS&rs...
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New names added to migration Welcome Wall at National Maritime Museum

November 22, 2025 • 4 mins
Two panels have been unveiled at Australia's National Maritime Museum to honour a new group of migrant families. Museum Director and CEO Ms Daryl Karp and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke say the Monument is a celebration of the long history of migrants who have shaped modern Australia.
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Calls for a better refugee response as Australia approaches one millionth visa milestone

November 8, 2025 • 6 mins
Australia is set to issue its one millionth permanent humanitarian visa since the end of World War II as early as the end of this year. The milestone has prompted celebration over the immense contribution refugees make to Australia's national story. But refugee rights organisations say it's a pertinent time to consider how Australia can improve its response to mass global displacement.
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A rich cultural heritage celebrated in lights: Diwali

October 18, 2025 • 3 mins
Diwali is the biggest festival in India and many South Asian countries, marking the victory of good over evil and the triumph of light over darkness. It is celebrated by more than a billion people around the world, including diaspora communities in Australia.
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Yazidi refugees in Toowoomba find community through hockey

October 4, 2025 • 4 mins
The Queensland city of Toowoomba has become home to thousands of Yazidi refugees. A local hockey program is aiming to develop confidence and language skills for this community, with the help of retired locals on the field.
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Vital role of translators celebrated amid AI challenge

September 29, 2025 • 7 mins
It's been eight years since the United Nations first recognised International Translation Day. The celebration falls on 30 September and recognises the work of language professionals who foster cultural understanding, connection and social cohesion. But some translators and interpreters in Australia believe more needs to be done to protect the workforce and bridge language barriers.
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Australia's newest citizens welcomed in ceremonies on Australian Citizenship Day

September 17, 2025 • 6 mins
Thousands are celebrating becoming new Australians, as local councils hosted ceremonies around the country for Australian Citizenship Day. SBS spoke to some of the new citizens.
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Hope and hate: how governments around the world are responding to 'illegal' immigration

September 6, 2025 • 17 mins
Recently, local news headlines have been dominated by stories about anti-immigration rallies which were held across Australia on the last day of August. But it's not just in Australia where migration has created such deep feelings - it's also an issue that has been front and centre in the US as Donald Trump fulfils his election campaign promise to carry out mass deportations. There are now at least a million fewer immigrants in the...
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How a grandmother's curry tells the story of a family's migration journey

September 5, 2025 • 4 mins
Making a chicken curry on stage is not what you would usually expect when visiting the theatre. But for actor Joshua Jamil Hinton, it's the centrepiece of his show, due to open in Brisbane this month, telling his story of living between different cultures and grappling with his own identity.
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