Australia’s success is underpinned by a culture rich in diversity and multiculturalism, reliant on a migration system that supports the varied people who call Australia home and who contribute to our cultural and economic success. The release of the Migration Strategy on 11 December, emphasised the need to overhaul aspects of Australia’s migration system. UA notes the need to consider the outcomes of this Strategy in planning the size and composition of the skilled component of the migration program in 2024-25 and beyond, to ensure the policy reforms align with program numbers.

Universities Australia recommends that:

• The primary goal of the 2024-25 Migration Program should be ensuring program outcomes align with the policy intent of the Migration Strategy.
• The Australian Government should maintain robust yet competitive visa settings, comparable to our competitor countries, to continue to attract world-class students, researchers and
  university staff.
• The Migration Program serve the needs of the nation, while ensuring the overarching principle of this exercise should be to do no harm.