Indian-Origin MP Condemns Hate at Australia Anti-Immigration Marches

(SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA) Indian-origin MPs have condemned a surge of anti-immigration marches across Australia, urging calm and concrete action as protests, counter-protests, and policy shifts collide in a tense late-winter season. Over August and September 2025, thousands joined rallies in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane calling for lower migration, citing housing costs, job worries, and pressure on services. Multicultural groups staged counter-protests, stressing that Australia’s strength comes from its long history of welcoming newcomers.

In a widely covered speech on September 10, Dr. Anjali Rao (Labor, Victoria) said, “I am exhausted by the relentless scapegoating of migrants. Australia’s strength lies in its multicultural fabric, and we must reject hate in all its forms.” She and other Indian-origin MPs, including Amar Singh (Greens, New South Wales), pressed for bipartisan steps to call out hate speech and back migrant safety. Their stand reflects growing unease among communities targeted by online abuse and street taunts linked to the anti-immigration marches.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Immigration Minister Andrew Giles have denounced the rise in racist rhetoric and pointed to funding aimed at social cohesion. On September 12, the Department of Home Affairs announced $178.4 million over five years for anti-racism campaigns and support programs for migrant communities. Officials say the aim is to keep debate focused on policy, not identity, as protesters and counter-protesters continue to meet on city streets.

Government response and policy settings

The policy backdrop is shifting. The 2025–26 Permanent Migration Program remains at 185,000 places, with about 71% for skilled migrants (132,200 places). Within that total:

• Employer-sponsored places: 44,000
• Skilled independent places: 16,900

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the program mix signals a clear tilt toward employer sponsorship as the main skilled pathway, even as public debate intensifies.

Costs, thresholds and visa changes

Australia has raised several costs and thresholds to reshape intake and labour market impacts:

• As of July 1, 2025, most visa fees rose about 3%.
• The student visa fee increased to $2,000 per application.
• Wage floors for sponsored workers:
  • TSMIT (Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold): $76,515
  • Specialist Skills Income Threshold: $141,210

Employers support higher wages to prevent undercutting but warn of added recruitment costs.

A major structural change arrived on December 7, 2024, when the new Skills in Demand visa replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage visa. It has three streams:

1. Specialist Skills — salaries at or above AUD 135,000
2. Core Skills — salaries from AUD 73,150 to AUD 135,000, tied to a Core Skills Occupation List
3. Essential Skills — aimed at critical sectors, with rollout expected mid-2025

Student visa processing changed under Ministerial Direction 111, introducing a two-tier model and raising both financial and English requirements. Financial capacity now aligns with 75% of the national minimum wage. The government says the changes curb misuse and help manage pressure on rental markets and campuses. Universities and student groups counter that the fee increases—paired with stricter tests—will deter talent, especially from lower-income families.

Canberra is also promoting regional settlement:

• Faster paths to permanent residency in regional areas
• Some age limits lifted under tailored agreements
• The message: move skills to where they are needed, not just to big cities

Additionally, a two-year ban on foreign home purchases took effect on April 1, 2025, restricting temporary residents and foreign-owned companies from buying houses.

For official settings, including current planning levels, see the Department of Home Affairs migration program.

Practical effects for migrants and students

The protests and policy shifts are having immediate, practical consequences:

• International students
  • Face higher upfront costs (including the $2,000 visa fee), stricter English scores, and longer checks if their providers are in higher-risk categories under the two-tier system.
  • Many reconsider budgets; education agents report questions about refunds, deferrals, and alternatives in Canada and the United States.
  • Student groups warn the changes will deter lower-income applicants.
• Skilled workers
  • Are leaning toward employer sponsorship earlier, given the lower Skilled Independent intake and higher wage floors.
  • The Core Skills pathway is attracting engineers, IT staff and trades, but employers must meet stricter salary bands and compliance duties.
  • Business groups welcome clearer wage rules but say smaller firms need help with compliance paperwork and audits.
• Community safety and harassment
  • Helplines have seen increased traffic since August, reporting slurs on public transport and outside migrant service centres.
  • Multicultural charities ask for:
  • More community liaisons at protests
  • Faster takedown of abusive posts
  • Better outreach to new arrivals who may not know their rights or where to report incidents

• Tribunals and legal reviews
  • The Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) reports heavy caseloads with migration matters a large share of reviews as of March 2025.
  • Longer queues add stress for families and employers; some applicants now plan for possible reviews from the outset by strengthening evidence on finances, English and genuine need.

Political debate and likely future tweaks

The opposition has proposed sharper cuts: Liberal leader Peter Dutton wants a reduction of permanent migration by a quarter to 140,000 places, arguing it would ease rents and wages pressure. Government ministers counter that Australia needs targeted migration to fill skills gaps and lift productivity. Economists are split; many say supply constraints, not just migration, are driving housing pain.

Analysts expect more tweaks to the Migration Strategy later in 2025, possibly affecting:

• Regional quotas
• Student work rights
• Occupation lists

The government is also watching trade deals. For example, the CEPA with the UAE could affect labour market testing rules for UAE nationals before year’s end — a small but telling pivot in managing skills flows.

Key takeaways: tone and policy both matter. Anti-immigration marches have stirred anxiety for many residents, including families from India whose children now ride buses with extra worry. Indian-origin MPs are pushing back with public words and calls for practical support. Whether policy tweaks and new funding calm tensions — or amplify a louder campaign season — will shape lives far beyond the protest lines.

Practical checklist for migrants and students

For migrants planning next steps, several basics now apply:

1. Build a clear budget for higher fees and living costs, including the raised student financial benchmark tied to the minimum wage.
2. If pursuing the Skills in Demand visa, match salaries to the correct stream and confirm if your role appears on the Core Skills Occupation List.
3. Consider regional options for faster residency pathways, especially under designated area migration agreements.
4. For students, track provider risk ratings that influence the two-tier pipeline and keep English test results current.

If you need further clarification on any policy detail or practical next steps, say which area (student visas, Skills in Demand streams, regional pathways, or community safety) you want expanded and I’ll provide targeted guidance.