‘Mate Speak English, You'Re in Australia Now’

The last decade has seen the introduction or increase in English language thresholds across Australia's skilled permanent migration program and, in some cases, for applicants for temporary skilled visas. These increases have been achieved variously by regulatory amendment and judicial interpretation of the Migration Regulations. This article charts these trends, unpacks the policy rationales that have been offered for these increases and explores their undesirable and unintended consequences.

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