Australia needs a migration system that works for small business and families
17 September 2026
As the Albanese Government prepares to announce its new migration policy today, it must get the foundations right.
Australia needs a well-managed migration program tailored to our needs. And we have a responsibility to maintain humanitarian visas for vulnerable and displaced people, giving them a fair opportunity to work and contribute.
Research has put migrants at nearly a third of Australia’s labour force. Every 1,000 migrants generates around $124 million in economic output each year.
For Warringah’s small businesses, migration brings skills, experience and enterprise that help our local economy thrive. Skilled migrants can keep a restaurant’s kitchen running, help a building business take on another project, or enable a care provider to meet demand.
Small businesses need a system that responds to genuine skills shortages and helps retain experienced workers. That means accessible visa pathways, proportionate fees and timely decisions. The Government must make migration processes simpler and more predictable for small employers.
Migrants establish their own businesses, employing Australians and adding to the diversity of our shops and services. They are vital to building the homes and infrastructure Australia needs. They also make up around 35% of the aged care workforce and 37% of the disability workforce, while around 30% of Australia’s doctors were trained overseas.
It is misleading to claim that every migrant arrival requires a new home to be built. The 2021 Census recorded 2.5 people per household, not one person. Migration does add to housing demand, but scapegoating migrants for the housing crisis is wrong.
Australians bringing their partners and family members home also deserve fairness. Partner visa fees rose 25 per cent to $11,710 in July, before medicals and other costs. Migration practitioners report waits reaching 40 months for the temporary onshore stage alone.These delays impose emotional and financial strain on couples.
The Government must review fees, simplify evidence requirements and deliver timely decisions, while maintaining proportionate checks. Australians should not have to choose between the person they love and the country they call home.
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