Australia's 2025 Election Result: What Labor's Win Means for Migration in 2026

What Labor Promised (And Is Now Implementing)

Labor's migration platform centres on steady, managed growth with structural reforms already underway:

Policy Area	Labor's Position (Current Government)
Permanent migration intake	185,000 places for 2025-26 (unchanged from 2024-25), with 132,200 in the Skill Stream
Skills in Demand (SID) visa	Launched 7 December 2024, replacing the 482 TSS visa with 3 streams: Specialist Skills (≥$141,210 SSIT), Core Skills (≥$76,515 CSIT), and Essential Skills (expected mid-2026)
Student visa fees	Increased to $2,000 from 1 July 2025
Student work hours	Restored to 48 hours per fortnight during study (post-pandemic normalisation)
Graduate visa (485) reforms	Age limit reduced from 50 to 35 years; shorter post-study work periods
Genuine Student (GS) test	Replaced the old GTE requirement from 23 March 2024 - stricter integrity checks
Humanitarian intake	20,000 places annually
Significant Investor Visa	Not reinstated - remains abolished

IMPORTANT

Labor won a decisive majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate (28 seats - the largest Senate bloc since 1984). This means most of these policies will proceed without cross-bench negotiations.

What This Means for You

If you're a skilled worker, the Skills in Demand visa is now the primary employer-sponsored pathway. For a detailed comparison with the old 482 and 186 visas, read our 482 vs 186 vs Skills in Demand comparison guide. The Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) is dynamic and updated by Jobs and Skills Australia, so check whether your occupation is eligible using our ANZSCO Occupation Search.

If you're a student, expect higher costs ($2,000 application fee) and stricter scrutiny under the Genuine Student test. Learn how to pass the Genuine Student test and use our Student Visa Funds Calculator to estimate your financial requirements.

If you're pursuing permanent residency through the points test, the 185,000-place program and 65-point minimum remain unchanged - but competitive scores for Subclass 189 invitations continue to sit at 80-90+ points. See our guide on how to maximise your points score for strategies.

What the Coalition Proposed (And Lost On)

Under new leader Angus Taylor (who replaced Peter Dutton after Dutton lost his own seat of Dickson), the Coalition campaigned on the most restrictive migration platform in recent history. While these proposals were rejected by voters, they signal the direction of future opposition policy:

Policy Area	Coalition's Proposal
Permanent migration intake	Cut to 140,000 for the first 2 years, rising to 150,000 (year 3) and 160,000 (year 4)
Net overseas migration	Reduce by an additional 100,000 compared to Labor
Student visa work hours	Increase from 48 to 60 hours per fortnight (from 1 July 2026)
Student visa grants	Cap at 240,000 per year (~15% reduction)
Foreign student commencements	Reduce by at least 30,000 per year in higher education
Humanitarian intake	Cut from 20,000 to 13,750 places
"Australian values" test	Greater role for intelligence agencies in assessing prospective residents
Temporary Graduate Visas	Review settings to curb misuse as a de facto PR pathway

NOTE

The student work hours proposal (48→60/fortnight) was one of the Coalition's most debated policies. While it would have benefited students financially, critics argued it could undermine educational outcomes and depress wages for local workers.

What This Means for You

These proposals did not become law - but they remain in the Coalition's policy toolkit. If migration numbers rise again or housing pressures intensify, expect these ideas to resurface. For now, the current settings (48 hours/fortnight work cap, 185,000 permanent places) continue.

What the Greens Proposed

The Australian Greens, who lost three of their four House seats in the 2025 election (including leader Adam Bandt's), campaigned on a significantly more liberal migration platform:

Policy Area	Greens' Proposal
Humanitarian intake	Expand to 50,000 places annually (from 20,000)
Offshore detention	End it entirely - bring all detainees to community accommodation
Immigration detention	Cap holding periods at 7 days
Family reunion visas	Clear backlog within 3 years; cap wait times at 12 months
Balance of family test	Abolish entirely
Temporary Protection Visas	Grant permanent residency to all TPV/SHEV holders
Department of Home Affairs	Dismantle and return functions to previous departments
Section 501 (character test)	Repeal discriminatory provisions

What This Means for You

The Greens' proposals are unlikely to be implemented given their reduced parliamentary presence. However, if you're affected by the balance of family test for parent visas, note that advocacy to reform this test continues - and it may influence future policy. Check our Parent Visa Guide for current requirements.

What One Nation Proposed

Pauline Hanson's One Nation maintained its longstanding position of dramatically reducing migration:

Policy Area	One Nation's Proposal
Migration target	Zero net migration (cap at 130,000 arrivals)
Citizenship waiting period	Extend to 8 years (from current requirements)
Welfare eligibility	8-year waiting period for new migrants
Refugee Convention	Withdraw from the UN Refugee Convention
Student visas	End student visa pathway to permanent residency
Deportation	Deport all 75,000+ visa overstayers

What This Means for You

One Nation's proposals remain well outside the political mainstream. No major party supports zero net migration or withdrawal from the UN Refugee Convention. Current migration settings are unaffected.

Side-by-Side Comparison: The Policies That Matter Most

Policy	Labor (Current Gov't)	Coalition	Greens	One Nation
Permanent migration cap	185,000	140,000→160,000	Not specified	~130,000
Humanitarian intake	20,000	13,750	50,000	Withdraw from UNHCR
Student work hours	48 hrs/fortnight	60 hrs/fortnight	Not specified	End student visa pathway
Student visa fee	$2,000	Not specified	Reduce costs	Not specified
Employer sponsored visa	SID visa (3 streams)	Review settings	Not specified	Reduce intake
Offshore detention	Continue current	Strengthen	End entirely	Expand
Path to PR for students	500→485→189/190/491	Restrict 485 misuse	Easier pathways	End

What You Should Do Now

Regardless of which party you supported, the practical reality for 2025-2026 is clear:

Skilled workers: Check if your occupation is on the CSOL via our ANZSCO Search and calculate your eligibility with the Points Calculator
Employer-sponsored applicants: The Skills in Demand visa is live - ensure your employer meets the CSIT ($76,515) or SSIT ($141,210) threshold
Students: Budget for the $2,000 application fee and plan your finances with the Student Visa Funds Calculator
Partner visa applicants: Processing continues as normal - assess your evidence strength with our Partner Visa Assessment tool
Parent visa applicants: The balance of family test and long processing times continue - consider both the Subclass 143 Contributory Parent and Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent options

TIP

Election uncertainty is over. With Labor's landslide win and Senate majority, migration policy is now the most predictable it has been in years. This is actually a good time to apply - there's no risk of sudden mid-term policy shifts disrupting your application.

How First Migration Can Help

The 2025 election result settled the migration policy debate - but choosing the right visa pathway is still complex. At First Migration Service Centre, our registered migration agents track every policy change and help you navigate the system with confidence.

Ready to take the next step? We invite you to submit a free visa assessment so we can understand your situation and provide tailored advice.