Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced the nation's annual migration intake is being slashed by 30,000 places in an attempt to ease population pressures on congested capitals.
How will annual migration intake cut affect those potential migrants?
Here is the highlight:
- The government is cutting the annual migration ceiling from 190,000 to 160,000 places for the next four years.
- There will be 23,000 set aside for the new regional visas, which more than triples the number of migrants currently forced to spend two years in the bush.
- The employer-nominated stream of the visa will have 9000 places, while the state and territory-nominated scheme will have 14,000 spots.
- Population Minister Alan Tudge said many smaller cities were crying out for more people, with an estimated 47,000 job vacancies in regional Australia.
- The number of employer-sponsored skilled migrants allowed into Australia is being bumped up slightly to 39,000 places.
- There will be no change to the family stream of the program, which offers 48,000 visas.
- Meanwhile, tertiary scholarships worth $15,000 will be offered to 1000 local and international students each year to attend university in the regions.
- Overseas students will also be able to work in Australia for an extra year after graduating from regional unis.
READ MORE

澳洲移民人数年度上限削减3万至16万!总理称与极右翼恐袭无关