Long-promised changes to Australia's regional sponsorship visas will be announced by the government on Tuesday, which will force new migrants to stay in regional areas before they can move to congested cities like Sydney or Melbourne.
The move comes as the government seeks to address population growth in the country's congested capitals while stimulating regional areas crying out for more labour.
Newly-appointed minister for cities and population Alan Tudge, will discuss the "congestion-busting" measures in detail at a speech in Melbourne later on Tuesday.
What's changing?
The visas will require migrants to live outside the cities for 'at least a few years', using a “combination of encouragement and some conditions”, Mr Tudge told ABC Radio ahead of the speech.
The minister would not specify what punishments might apply to migrants who breach their conditions.
“Nearly every visa has some conditions attached to it,” he said.
The magic number
Asked if Australia should set a population target, Mr Tudge said there was no need to set “an exact number”.
He said there needed to be “controlled population growth” and flagged future announcements on high-speed train lines “early next year.”
What areas count as 'Regional Australia'?
The country welcomed 4,766 skilled workers to regional areas in 2016-17, but almost half settled in Perth. The government removed Perth as a “regional” destination in November but Darwin, Adelaide, Canberra and Hobart remain eligible.
| Regional Australia | Postcodes inclusive |
|---|---|
| New South Wales except Sydney, Newcastle, the Central Coast and Wollongong | 2311 to 2312 2328 to 2411 2420 to 2490 2536 to 2551 2575 to 2594 2618 to 2739 2787 to 2898 |
| Queensland except the greater Brisbane area and the Gold Coast | 4124 to 4125 4133 4211 4270 to 4272 4275 4280 4285 4287 4307 to 4499 4515 4517 to 4519 4522 to 4899 |
| Victoria except Melbourne metropolitan area | 3211 to 3334 3340 to 3424 3430 to 3649 3658 to 3749 3753, 3756 3758 3762 3764 3778 to 3781 3783 3797 3799 3810 to 3909 3921 to 3925 3945 to 3974 3979 3981 to 3996 |
| Western Australia except Perth and surrounding area | 6041 to 6044 6083 to 6084 6121 to 6126 6200 to 6799 |
| South Australia | Entire State |
| Tasmania | Entire State |
| Northern Territory | Entire Territory |
Note: none of the Australian Capital Territory is included.
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