PODCAST · government
Immigration issues
by SBS
Make sense of Australia’s migration policies, with news reports and interviews about visas, citizenship, passports and more from the SBS News team.
Episodes
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The families being kept apart by new visa rules
Visa delays and new rules leave families struggling to reunite with ageing parents as backlogs continue to grow. New visitor visa restrictions are adding pressure to families already facing lengthy parent visa backlogs. This episode explores the difficult choices confronting migrants with ageing...
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Labor says its migration changes will have a 'soft landing' on the economy. Some farmers disagree
The federal government says Labor’s long-awaited immigration reforms are designed to bring net migration down, ease pressure on housing and close what it describes as loopholes in the visa system. But what does that look like for farmers, current international students and migrant workers?
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One Nation came second in the Hunter electorate last election. What do voters there think now?
Support for One Nation has been on the rise in recent months. But in the electorate of Hunter - a Labor stronghold in New South Wales - the party was the runner up in last year's election, one of only two electorates where that happened. SBS News reporter Kerrin Thomas travelled to Hunter to…
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Support for multiculturalism is declining. Why is that so?
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...
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As Australia celebrates one million refugees, some employers are stepping up offering jobs and training
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
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...
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Strong backlash as Angus Taylor unveils Coalition’s controversial immigration policy
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
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
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…
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‘Are our loved ones alive or not?’ A distressing start to the academic year for these international students
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
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...
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Tensions deepen across the US over fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis
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
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
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...
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INTERVIEW: Associate Professor Bassina Farbenblum
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...
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New names added to migration Welcome Wall at National Maritime Museum
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
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...
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A rich cultural heritage celebrated in lights: Diwali
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
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
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...
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Australia's newest citizens welcomed in ceremonies on Australian Citizenship Day
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
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...
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How a grandmother's curry tells the story of a family's migration journey
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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Anti-immigration rallies ignore Australia's economic dependence on migration
Australia in anti-immigration marches.At the heart of what organisers called the 'March for Australia' rallies was a call to end "mass migration", which protesters claimed is to blame for issues like the housing crisis and rise in cost of living. Experts say a paradox exists in the…
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Thousands rally against immigration with neo-Nazis taking the spotlight
A wave of nation-wide anti-immigration rallies have swept Australia's capital cities, with thousands joining marches and clashing with police and counter-protesters across the country. Organisers say the events were calling for an end to what they consider "mass migration" into Australia, while...
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'An attack on multiculturalism': government's new Nauru deal greeted with alarm
The Federal Government has struck a $400 million deal with Nauru that it says paves the way for deportation of the so-called NZYQ cohort. The announcement has been met with outrage from advocates, human rights lawyers, and the Greens. Critics say the deal threatens fundamental legal rights in…
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These Karen women are weaving new lives in Australia but fear for thousands struggling in camps
As international aid dwindles, refugees worldwide face worsening food insecurity. Among thousands displaced by ongoing conflict in Myanmar, experts warn a humanitarian crisis is looming. Those who’ve found refuge in Australia are working to keep culture alive.
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Grants for social enterprises look to break cycles of disadvantage
The federal government has announced there'll be 22 grants made to social enterprises to help support marginalised communities. It's part of an $11 million investment aimed at tackling issues like long-term unemployment and discrimination.
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Refugees in visa limbo for 13 years take their plight to Parliament
A group of refugees who say they've been living in limbo in Australia for 13 years have taken their fight for permanent residency to federal parliament in Canberra.They're part of a group of more than 8,000 people who had their refugee protection claims rejected under a now-abolished visa system.
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'Bullying, yelling, sexual harassment, underpaid': study finds one in three young workers are ripped off
A third of young workers in Australia are being paid less than $15 an hour - that's almost ten dollars below the minimum hourly wage. It's one of the key findings of a Melbourne University report showing 15 to 30 year olds are experiencing widespread breaches of labour laws. And those from...
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'Save us from this hopeless situation': Afghan refugee calls on Australia to protect his family
Ahmad and his family have spent the past three and a half years living in limbo after fleeing the Taliban for Pakistan. He has now waited more than 42 months to hear a response to his Refugee and Humanitarian visa application from the Australian government. As Pakistani authorities boost efforts…
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‘I didn’t sleep at all’: One mother’s terrifying wait for news from a war zone
It was a tense week for families with loved ones in the Middle East – especially for one Melbourne mother separated from her three sons in Iran. When phone and internet failed, she did not know if they had survived.
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Amy thought she had a secure job as an international student - she was wrong
Since 2024, the federal government has launched several policies to restrict international student numbers, including raising the fees for student visa applications, and slowing down the processing time for visas. The new rules have significantly affected the independent education sectors, which...
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"We have to talk about the uncomfortable thing": refugee artists explore issues of identity and home
The Internationally renowned slam poet known as Huda the Goddess has officially claimed the UNHCR-SBS Les Murray Award for Refugee Recognition. The honours coincide with World Refugee Day, which celebrates refugees and their contribution to society.
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Migrants reflect on life in Australia, 50 years after fleeing Timor-Leste
This year, SBS marks 50 years of broadcasting, providing an important service to multicultural Australia through promoting inclusion and delivering in-language information. It's also the 50th anniversary of the biggest wave of Timorese migration to Australia. Fleeing conflict, the community has...
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'We're running out of time': Operation Babylift adoptees return to Vietnam to search for family
As the world marks 50 years since the fall of Saigon and end of the Vietnam War, a group of adoptees who were taken out of the country prior to 1975 are racing against time to find the mothers they were separated from. An event spearheaded by Australian-Vietnamese adoptees saw a group of them...
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Trauma casts a long shadow for immigration detainees
A new report has highlighted alarming mental health outcomes for individuals who have spent time in detention. Refugees and migrants already experience lower rates of mental health literacy - but one initiative is looking to raise awareness and provide easy English resources in culturally and...
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Protests erupt after student arrests in US immigration sweep
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says more than 300 foreign student visas may have been revoked under the Trump Administration's immigration crackdown. But the tactics used by the State Department have come under fire after the street arrest of a 30-year-old PhD student it claims was a Hamas...
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Lives on hold, contributions unrecognised: people awaiting residency petition parliament
Many people waiting for permanent residency on a certain subclass of visa say delays in granting Permanent Residency by the Department of Home Affairs have left them in limbo, and their lives on hold. They don't feel like their contributions to Australia - and particularly the contributions they...
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'Huge ambitions' moving forward as refugee resettlement scheme becomes permanent
The federal government has announced that the Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot - known as CRISP - will become permanent. The initiative, launched in mid 2022, has helped over 500 refugees to be settled by community groups across Australia.
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Should Australia bring back the Significant Investor Visa?
New Zealand has announced that wealthy investors need only spend 21 days in the country over three years to gain permanent residency under new conditions for so-called "golden ticket" visas. A similar visa scheme in Australia was scrapped by the government last year, but the Federal Opposition…
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The Sydney school embracing Mongolian language and culture
There has been an uptick in migration from Mongolia to Australia, As a result, New South Wales Public Schools have experienced a 40 per cent growth in students from Mongolian backgrounds for two years running - encouraging one school to become a hub for the community. And this story has been...
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SBS language broadcasts added to iconic Sounds of Australia collection
Ten extraordinary audio recordings illustrating Australia’s cultural and political landscape have been added to the National Film & Sound Archive’s Sounds of Australia collection. The 2024 additions include the first Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Australian to use recorded sound to…
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Refugees are settling well in Australia but programs fail to consider women, report finds
Settling into a new country is a daunting prospect. But a study over 10-years has found there are a variety of positive outcomes that refugees can experience in their first decade of living in Australia. Still, many face challenges with renewed calls for better policies to assist those who are...
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Asylum seeker advocates say the government is abandoning multicultural communities
Labor's package of migration legislation will pass the Senate, with the Coalition agreeing to pass the three bills. The changes to the Migration Act would give the immigration minister powers to impose blanket visa bans on countries, pay third countries to deport non-citizens, and ban items like...
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'It broke us, the whole feeling of shame, anger, despair': Modern slavery survivor
Australia is increasingly eager to welcome temporary migrant workers from the Pacific into farm and food processing jobs. But a NSW parliamentary inquiry into modern slavery is set to examine the significant risks these workers can face.
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Asylum seekers call on Labor to end visa uncertainty after Coalition-era rejections
Asylum seekers are still calling on Labor to fulfil its election pledge and end their visa uncertainty, after thousands of refugee claims were rejected under a Coalition-era assessment scheme. They're part of a silent protest at the Home Affairs Minister's office which has now gone on for more…
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Universities brace for Labor's planned cap on overseas students
International student commencements will be capped next year as the government tries to limit overseas migration. Education Minister Jason Clare says the caps will make the international education sector fairer, but many universities have opposed the plan.
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The health issues faced by migrant men in Australia
New research has found men from migrant backgrounds experience poorer health outcomes, the longer they live in Australia. It's among a range of findings by the Movember Institute of Men's Health, showing barriers to accessing care are among the biggest challenges they face.
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Refugees, asylum-seekers face escalating struggle for homes in their new home
Refugees and asylum seekers in high-income countries struggle to find stable, affordable housing, which can negatively affect their health. A Flinders University study has identified barriers like language, lack of rental references, and discrimination are affecting migrants seeking homes in…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Make sense of Australia’s migration policies, with news reports and interviews about visas, citizenship, passports and more from the SBS News team.
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How many episodes does Immigration issues have?
Immigration issues currently has 73 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
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Make sense of Australia’s migration policies, with news reports and interviews about visas, citizenship, passports and more from the SBS News team.
How often does Immigration issues release new episodes?
Immigration issues has 73 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
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Immigration issues is created and hosted by SBS.
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