Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Abul Rizvi @abulrizvi.bsky.social · 5h

While govt may not have assisted their return, the ISIS brides would have been on Movment Alert List so DHA & relevant law enforcement orgs would have known when they boarded a plane to OZ & when they landed. Ministers would have been advised. www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...

As Europe falls to the far right, Hastie and Ley are at odds about what it means for the Liberals

Immigration, an issue that should be problematic for a centre-left Albanese government, is instead bedevilling his conservative opponents.

www.smh.com.au

1

Abul Rizvi @abulrizvi.bsky.social · 1d

If child of an OZ citizen applies for citizenship by decent, on what legal basis could that be refused? If that child applies for a passport, on what legal basis could that be refused? Seems critics of this have contempt for OZ law.

Albanese government accused of assisting ISIS brides’ return to Australia

The Albanese government has been accused of undeniably assisting ISIS brides to return to Australia, despite repeated assertions they travelled home of their own accord.

www.skynews.com.au

1 9

Abul Rizvi @abulrizvi.bsky.social · 1d

I’ll be in Sydney Radio (2GB) tonight at 8.30pm discussing implications of the bridging visa backlog growing from 100k about 10 years ago to 400k today.

1 5

Abul Rizvi @abulrizvi.bsky.social · 2d

Sorry tale of time & cost blow outs of OZ’s newest & biggest gas fired power station. It will be far less responsive than any big battery. Yet we are expected to believe much more complex nuclear power stations will be built on time & budget? reneweconomy.com.au/the-abject-s...

reneweconomy.com.au

1 6 11

Abul Rizvi @abulrizvi.bsky.social · 6d

Recent JSA report provides an excelkent basis for reform of immigration policy, inc delivery of PM’s promise to get net migration to pre pandemic levels & deal with the rising pressures on the permanent Migration Program. independentaustralia.net/politics/pol...

Government report provides a strong basis for immigration reform

Australia’s student visa system is feeding permanent migration at double the rate Treasury assumed.

independentaustralia.net

2 4

Abul Rizvi @abulrizvi.bsky.social · 10d

Collapse in chinese student numbers over next 15 years inevitable rather than just highly likely. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/collaps...

Collapse in Chinese student numbers ‘highly likely’ by 2040

Long-term trends including declining birth rate mean number of students looking to study abroad set to be much lower in only 10 years’ time

www.timeshighereducation.com

2 1

Abul Rizvi @abulrizvi.bsky.social · 11d

No of people in OZ on a bridging visa has exceeded 400k for 1st time in our history. That reflects a visa system in deep trouble. But does the govt have a plan to address that?

1 3 4

Abul Rizvi @abulrizvi.bsky.social · 13d

www.canberratimes.com.au/story/907481...

Hastie's migration claims 'dog-whistling', says former immigration deputy

Senior Liberal's comments 'stirring the pot' amid heated debate.

www.canberratimes.com.au

1 4

Abul Rizvi @abulrizvi.bsky.social · 13d

When he says this, is he proposing OZ abandon the 1989 Parliamentary motion on a non-discriminatory migration program? Which races/religions, etc does he propose we favour/oppose? Perhaps he could clarify? www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...

Hastie taunted over claim that Australians are 'strangers in our own home'

The home affairs minister says Andrew Hastie should name which visa classes he would cut after the shadow home affairs minister suggested "unsustainable" immigration was making Australians "feel like ...

www.abc.net.au

1 8 17

Abul Rizvi @abulrizvi.bsky.social · 16d

For 1st time in OZ history, number of asylum seekers refused at primary stage and not departed for exceeds 100k. 100,157 at end August 2025.

1

Abul Rizvi @abulrizvi.bsky.social · 16d

Optus outage goes back to fact OZ is a huge, low population density continent with 3 overlapping privately owned mobile networks. That has led to underinvestment in infrastructure resilience & coverage. Sale of Telstra was a disaster we continue to pay for.

1 3 15

Abul Rizvi @abulrizvi.bsky.social · 20d

Rather than apologise for rubbish peddled to fuel anti-immigration marches, the IPA continue to make fools of themselves. Net migration prior to pandemic was 230,000. In 12 months to March 2025, it was 315,000. That’s not double. ipa.org.au/publications...

Migration remains double pre-pandemic levels

“The latest ABS data shows the federal government has completely failed to bring Australia’s migration program back to pre-pandemic levels, with Net Overseas Migration in the March quarter twice the p...

ipa.org.au

1 2 5

Abul Rizvi @abulrizvi.bsky.social · 20d

So will these many media outlets & think tanks that got it wrong on net migration now apologise to the ABS & report the correct figures to their audiences? I doubt it. independentaustralia.net/politics/pol...

Media that accused ABS of censorship and politicisation should apologise

Right-wing commentators and think tanks owe the ABS an apology after falsely accusing it of censorship and politicisation over migration data.

independentaustralia.net

2 4 11

Abul Rizvi @abulrizvi.bsky.social · 21d

NOM in MarchQ25 was 110,062. Significantly lower than the 190,000+ it needed to be to support media & think tank assertions NOM was rising not falling. NOM for 12 months to March25 was 315,924.

2 1

Abul Rizvi @abulrizvi.bsky.social · 21d

For media & think tanks arguing NOM in 24-25 & 2025 increased & is increasing, March Q25 NOM (out tomorrow) will have to be over 190K. It is more likely to be between 100K & 130K which would mean NOM in 24-25 fell.

2 3

Abul Rizvi @abulrizvi.bsky.social · 23d

Since start of post-war migration, we have always granted permanent visas to whole nuclear families. The idea we would grant permanent visas to just the primary skilled applicant & not to spouse/kids is nonsense. www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...

Bombshell report shows the type of migrants coming into Australia

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese 's government announced earlier this month that it would maintain its permanent migration numbers at 185,000 people per year.

www.dailymail.co.uk

1 7

Abul Rizvi @abulrizvi.bsky.social · 25d

While India’s fertility rate is now below replacement (and will fall further), its population will continue to grow for a few more decades because of its younger age structure & rising life expectancy. www.newsweek.com/india-fertil...

India's fertility rate change sparks alarm

Politician Mohan Bhagwat called on Indian families to have three children each.

www.newsweek.com

3 4

Abul Rizvi @abulrizvi.bsky.social · 25d

Migration (non-asylum) appeals at ART at end July25 were a record 59187. Of these 39195 were student refusals; 1080 student cancellations & 2019 temporary graduate refusals. One of the flow on consequences of letting student numbers get out of control.

1 3

Abul Rizvi @abulrizvi.bsky.social · 26d

Despite some sensible reforms to skilled temporary visas, it’s still not working as it should. Too many former students getting these on basis of cookery courses & not enough construction tradies. independentaustralia.net/politics/pol...

Record temporary visas strain migration system as shortages persist

Australia’s record surge in skilled temporary visas is clogging the system, while leaving the nation’s most urgent trade shortages unresolved.

independentaustralia.net

1 1 4

Abul Rizvi @abulrizvi.bsky.social · 27d

NPLT movement for July25 around 2,000 higher than July24. That will send some media into a frenzy about net migration (NOM) not falling.

NOM is falling & that will be confirmed next week when NOM for MarchQ25 is released. But NOM is not falling as fast as Treasury is forecasting in 25-26.

1 2

Abul Rizvi @abulrizvi.bsky.social · Sep 8

If neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell is a dual OZ/NZ citizen, under current law his deportation to NZ is highly unlikely. Calls to change citizenship law to enable deportation of neo-Nazis would be poor policy. Political ideology should be dealt with at the ballot box. independentaustralia.net/politics/pol...

Neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell in custody as deportation calls mount

Calls grow for neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell’s deportation, but strict citizenship laws make removal unlikely.

independentaustralia.net

1 7

Abul Rizvi @abulrizvi.bsky.social · Sep 7

It was Dutton/Pezzullo who let this situation get out of hand. Now we have an impossible public policy challenge no Govt will have the money to address. www.news.com.au/finance/econ...

www.news.com.au

1 1

Abul Rizvi @abulrizvi.bsky.social · Sep 7

My eldest daughter writing about the migrant experience. A good way to reflect given current controversies. www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/li...

I was an adult before I truly understood where my father was from

I suspect like most first-generation migrants, Dad learned early that the best way to fit in is to let your heritage gently recede.

www.smh.com.au

4 9

Abul Rizvi @abulrizvi.bsky.social · Sep 6

There is no evidence of a looming deportation drive. If there was we would see it in a huge budget measure for increased staff, detention centres, guards, etc. www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/albanes...

Albanese’s Looming Deportation Drive Might Bring Trump’s Nightmare Home

The Australian government has passed laws which strip tens of thousands of genuine refugees of the right to due process.

www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au

2 1

Abul Rizvi @abulrizvi.bsky.social · Sep 5

If he is an OZ citizen and he didn’t lie on his application, there is no legal basis to deport Sewell (no matter how horrible he is). www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...

PVO: Australia can't even deport Nazis. It should make us all furious

Immigration Minister Tony Burke insists that neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell 'hates modern Australia'. On that point, he's right....

www.dailymail.co.uk

3 3