Breaking News: Albanese's Bold Plan to Tackle Australia's Parent Visa Backlog

As Australia approaches the 2025 federal election, the Albanese government has pledged to address the longstanding issues surrounding parent visa processing times. With some applicants facing waits of up to 31 years, the government aims to reform the system to reunite families more efficiently.​

The Current Landscape

Australia's parent visa program has been plagued by extensive delays. As of late 2024, nearly 2,300 applicants had died while waiting for their visas. The backlog has grown, with applications increasing from 140,000 to 150,000, despite an annual visa cap increase from 4,500 to 8,500.

The contributory parent visa category sees processing times of approximately 14 years, while the general aged parent visa can take up to 31 years. These prolonged waits have caused significant emotional and financial strain on families.

Government's Proposed Reforms

In response to these challenges, the Albanese government has proposed several reforms:​

• Increased Visa Allocations: Further raising the annual cap to reduce the backlog.​

• Streamlined Processing: Implementing more efficient processing systems to expedite applications.​

• Support Services: Providing better support for applicants during the waiting period.​

  
  

These measures aim to address the systemic issues causing delays and to reunite families more promptly.​

Opposition's Stance

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has expressed concerns about the sustainability of current migration levels, suggesting that high immigration contributes to housing unaffordability. The Coalition has proposed reducing the number of overseas students and raising visa application fees, which could indirectly affect parent visa processing by reallocating resources. ​

Looking Ahead

With early voting commencing and the federal election scheduled for May 3, 2025, the government's commitment to reforming the parent visa system is a significant point of discussion. Families affected by the backlog are hopeful that these proposed changes will lead to meaningful improvements.