Government to announce new visa conditions forcing new migrants to regional areas

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.

Here is a list of postcodes 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.