Reported from the source

Quick summary: Australia’s Labor government is introducing legislation to allow the Home Affairs Minister to block certain temporary visa holders, particularly from countries like Iran, from entering Australia due to escalating conflict in the Middle East and concerns about overstays. This comes as the total value of Australian homes has surpassed $12 trillion for the first time. Meanwhile, the NSW government has issued a default notice to the consortium building the M6 motorway, demanding work resume or face legal consequences, two years after sinkholes emerged.

The Labor government is set to introduce changes to immigration rules, granting the Home Affairs Minister, Tony Burke, the power to block individuals from countries including Iran from travelling to Australia on tourist and other temporary visas. This measure is in response to shifting global circumstances and the escalating conflict in the Middle East, with authorities assuming some individuals may seek to stay permanently due to the conflict. The bill, introduced by Julian Hill, Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, aims to close perceived loopholes and applies to visas issued within the past six months. Exceptions include those with a dependent child under 18 in Australia, immediate family of an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or humanitarian visa holders. The Coalition supports the move in principle. In other news, the combined value of Australia’s residential property market reached $12 trillion for the first time at the end of last year, according to new Australian Bureau of Statistics data. This marks 13 consecutive quarters of growth, with the total value of homes increasing by 26% since September 2022. The average home price rose by 2.7% in the final three months of 2025 to $1.07 million, with NSW recording the highest average at $1.3 million. Western Australia became the third state to exceed an average home price of $1 million. Separately, the NSW government has issued a notice of default to CGU, the consortium building the $3.1 billion M6 motorway tunnel in Sydney. The notice compels the consortium to resume construction by May 1 or face potential legal consequences, two years after large sinkholes appeared above the site and work halted in June due to a “challenging” geological feature. NSW Premier Chris Minns expressed uncertainty about whether he would still be premier by the project’s completion, which has been delayed from late 2025 to 2028. Additionally, the Greens put forward a motion in the Senate calling for the withdrawal of Australian troops from the US military and opposing involvement in “another US-led forever war.” Trade Minister Don Farrell stated the government is not taking offensive action against Iran or deploying troops on the ground there, and the motion did not receive support from the government or Coalition. Victoria’s new fuel price cap also came into effect, requiring retailers to set daily prices by 2pm for the following day, published on the Servo Saver app. Approximately 1.4 million students are scheduled to sit Naplan tests, with arrangements made for students observing Ramadan. No Labor MP questioned the Prime Minister about the Middle East deployment of ADF members during their weekly caucus meeting.

Source: www.theguardian.com