The Liberal and National parties released a new migration plan on 6 October 2026, and international students and 485 graduates across Brisbane are asking whether it changes anything for them. The short answer is that it is an Opposition proposal, not law, so nothing about your visa changes today. This guide explains the Coalition Migration Policy 2026 in the party's own words, sets it against the rules that actually apply now, and shows how to plan sensibly. Migration Star takes no political side; we explain what is published.
The Liberal Party published "Our Plan for Less Migration and More Homes" on 6 October 2026. It is a statement of what the party would do if it formed government and passed legislation. Until that happens, it has no effect on any visa application.
On the numbers, the party page says it would "Cut net overseas migration to 100,000 a year for two years, before levelling out at around 160,000 in year four" and "Keep the permanent migration program capped at 185,000 places a year". It also proposes to bring in up to 5,000 more highly skilled workers a year through the Specialist Skills stream. You can read the full wording at the Liberal Party migration plan page.
It helps to separate three things when you read coverage of this topic. A party policy is a statement of intent. A bill is a draft law that Parliament must pass. A legislative instrument is a rule that actually binds the Department. Only the last two can change how a visa is assessed, and at the time of writing this plan sits in the first category.
The measure that has drawn most attention from students is the proposal to abolish the Temporary Graduate visa. The party's media release states: "We will abolish Temporary Graduate Visas" (Liberal Party media release, 6 October 2026).
The Department of Home Affairs describes the current subclass 485 visa as a temporary visa that allows international students to live, study and work after they have finished their studies (Home Affairs, Temporary Graduate visa). That remains the position today. The proposal would only matter if it were legislated.
The party's materials also propose to:
restrict most students from bringing family members;
link each student visa to the enrolling institution; and
keep post-study transitional visas for PhD students.
The page does not set out transition or grandfathering arrangements, so we cannot tell you what would happen to people already holding a visa. Be wary of anyone who claims to know.
The plan includes a measure aimed at people who move from one temporary visa to the next while living in Australia. The party page proposes to: "Require people applying for a second or later temporary visa to apply from outside Australia" (Liberal Party migration plan).
The same page says second- and third-year Working Holiday Makers can still apply here. This is an area where the party's own documents use slightly different wording, so if you are a Working Holiday Maker, read both documents directly rather than relying on a summary.
For students, the idea of applying from outside Australia sits alongside a Government measure already underway on "visa hopping". Our explainer on visa hopping and the 2026 student visa changes covers what applies now.
The headline figure in the plan is net overseas migration of 100,000 a year for the first two years, rising to around 160,000 by year four. Net overseas migration is a population measure, not a visa category, so it does not tell you how many places exist for any one group.
For permanent migration, the party says it would keep the program capped at 185,000 places a year. For applicants, the practical point is that a population target does not decide an individual application. Each visa still turns on its own legal criteria.
It is also worth noting what the party page does not say. It does not give the date any measure would start, and it does not set out transition arrangements for people who already hold a visa. Where a policy is silent on detail, the sensible approach is to treat that detail as unknown and not to fill the gap with guesses from social media or commercial commentary.
If you are watching this debate because you are planning a pathway to permanent residence, keep your focus on what you can control today: meeting the criteria for the visa you hold or plan to apply for, and keeping your documents and timing in order.
The rules that apply to you now are the Government's, not the Opposition's. Home Affairs states that from 2 October 2026 there are new rules for Student visa (subclass 500) and Student Guardian (subclass 590) visas, including changes to who can apply while in Australia and to whether family members can be included (Home Affairs, changes to student visa application rules).
The Department's migration policy changes page says the Government's 2026 measures "will be progressively rolled out over the next 12 months", and that some have already started (Home Affairs, migration policy changes). If you plan to change course provider, our guide to the 12-month rule for changing education provider explains how that works today.
Because the Liberal migration plan is a proposal, we do not recommend changing or delaying a lawful plan because of it. Policies can change before an election, and an election outcome cannot be predicted. What does make sense is to understand your own position clearly.
Students in Brisbane often tell us the uncertainty is harder than any single rule. A student finishing a degree in 2027 may wonder whether to apply for a 485, look for an employer sponsor or study further. Each of those choices has its own criteria and timing under current law, and those criteria are what a decision should be tested against, not headlines.
A useful checklist for students and graduates:
confirm your current visa, its expiry date and its conditions on the Department's pages;
check which of the Government's 2 October 2026 rules apply to your next application;
keep evidence of enrolment, study progress and work history in one place; and
write down the decisions you may face in the next 12 months, such as changing provider, moving to a 485 or seeking sponsorship.
MARA No. 1797395 registered agents can review those decisions against current law, which is the only thing that can be relied on.
Migration Star is a Brisbane-based registered migration practice, and our principal agent is Rohit Sharma, MARA No. 1797395. If you are a student, graduate, or temporary visa holder and want to understand how current law applies to your next step, we can talk through your situation and the options that may be available to you, subject to meeting Department requirements. You can see what we do on our services page. To book a 30-minute Migration Consultation ($165), use this booking link, call 07 3519 5619, or visit us at Level 2, 8 Clunies Ross Court, Eight Mile Plains QLD 4113.
Information current as at 13/10/2026. Migration outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Visa criteria may change.
Information current as at 13/10/2026. Migration Star is a registered migration practice. Principal agent Rohit Sharma, MARA No. 1797395. Migration outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Visa criteria may change. This article is general information only and does not constitute migration advice. For advice on your specific situation, book a consultation at migrationstar.com.au.
Migration Star | MARA No. 1797395 | migrationstar.com.au | 07 3519 5619