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Australia news LIVE: Australia’s net migration will be halved; Borrowing costs are the fastest-growing area of government spending

Lottie Casas December 10, 2023

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Key posts

  • Students at centre of push to curb migrant blowout
  • Heavy fighting across Gaza amid renewed US military and diplomatic support
  • This morning’s headlines at a glance

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Students at centre of push to curb migrant blowout

Returning to Australia, the country’s net migration will be halved within two years in a dramatic move to slash the annual intake from a record high of 510,000.

The new migration strategy will demand students pass a stronger English-language test and will require them to prove they are genuine students before they enter the country, while making it harder for them to stay if they do not find jobs that help fix the nation’s skills shortages.

Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil will unveil Labor’s strategy to bring down the immigration level.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

The government remains open to more controversial measures, such as a cap on student numbers or higher fees on their visa applications, if the sweeping new plan does not cut the net migration intake to 250,000 by the year to June 2025.

Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil will outline the changes today with a pledge to cut the intake to more sustainable levels and act against migrant exploitation without putting at risk the ability to attract workers for jobs that need to be filled, such as in hospitals and aged care.

Continue reading about the changes here.

Heavy fighting across Gaza amid renewed US military and diplomatic support

Heavy fighting raged across Gaza overnight, including in the devastated north, as Israel pressed ahead with its offensive after the US blocked the latest international push for a ceasefire and rushed more munitions to its close ally.

Israel has faced rising international outrage and calls for a permanent ceasefire after the killing of thousands of Palestinian civilians. About 90 per cent of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been displaced within the besieged territory, where UN agencies say there is no safe place to flee.

Palestinians injured in an Israeli airstrike arrive at Nasser Medical Hospital in Khan Younis.Credit: Getty

The United States has lent vital support to the offensive by vetoing United Nations Security Council efforts to end the fighting and by pushing through an emergency sale of more than $US100 million ($152 million) worth of tank ammunition to Israel.

The US has pledged unwavering support for Israel’s goal of crushing Hamas’ military and governing abilities, and returning all the hostages captured in the October 7 attack that triggered the war.

Read the full story here, from AP.

This morning’s headlines at a glance

Good morning, and thanks for your company.

It’s Monday, December 11. I’m Caroline Schelle, and I’ll be anchoring our live coverage for the first half of the day.

Here’s what you need to know before we get started:

  • Australia’s net migration will be halved within two years, and will impose tougher tests on overseas students and turn away workers with low skills.
  • Higher interest rates are hitting the federal budget as well as household spending, and are forecast to cost the government an extra $80 billion over 11 years.
  • The top Palestinian representative in Australia has urged Foreign Minister Penny Wong to be “brave” enough to break with the United States over the war in Gaza.
  • The Albanese government wants overseas investors will face a sixfold increase in property fees for homes they buy and then leave vacant.
  • The health insurance industry has thrown its support behind a push to prevent a controversial group of podiatrists from describing themselves as surgeons.
  • In major state news from the weekend, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk who led Labor to three Queensland election victories will resign from politics.
  • Australia’s high commissioner to the UK has cancelled an annual Australia Day fundraiser that in the past attracted high-profile Aussies.
  • And in other overseas news, the Philippines accused China’s coast guard of “illegal and aggressive actions” after using water cannon and acoustic blasts in the South China Sea.

Let’s get into it.

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