AU Edition - Today's top story: The Coalition's migration policy rests on a series of false premises October 7, 2026 AU Edition   It was a long time coming, but the Coalition’s migration policy has finally been unveiled. Alongside previously announced measures such as pegging the number of new arrivals to housing completions, Liberal leader Angus Taylor promised the “biggest cut to immigration in the history of this country”, pledging to slash net overseas migration by two thirds. But as migration expert Alan Gamlen writes, the plan is built on shaky foundations. Slashing and burning, talking tough and drawing a straight line between immigration and housing will not only fail to fix the problems Australia faces, but may well create new ones. The Opposition says the cuts would largely be achieved by abolishing temporary graduate visas, which currently let recent graduates work in Australia for 18 months or more. Higher education expert Andrew Norton says this would be a huge blow to international education in Australia, offering less opportunity to overseas students. Now the Labor government, One Nation and the Coalition all have migration policies. Expect more debates in the days and weeks to come on a topic that has come to define the year in politics.   Erin Cooper-Douglas Public Policy Editor   The Coalition’s migration policy rests on a series of false premises Alan Gamlen, Australian National University The long-awaited plan includes cutting net overseas migration by two thirds and a crackdown on visa-hopping, but it’s all built on shaky foundations. The Coalition’s migration changes would slash international student enrolments Andrew Norton, Monash University Abolishing the temporary graduate visa would deliver a large additional blow to international education. Are you seeing new ‘service fees’ since the card surcharge ban? Here are the rules Fengfei Li, Deakin University Businesses can’t just give the card surcharges a different name. Some are putting up their prices instead. Counterfeit cash is at an 8-year high in Australia, new figures show. Here’s how to spot it Terry Goldsworthy, Bond University More than 40,000 fake notes – mostly $50 and $100 in cash – were detected in the past year alone. Authorities warn of a ‘concerning improvement’ in quality. The death of a Russian plague researcher, explained by a microbiologist Thomas Jeffries, Western Sydney University There are conflicting reports about what caused the death of a lab technician in a Russian plague research institute. Here’s what you need to know. Truth, evidence and controversy: Richard Dawkins’ The God Delusion at 20 Jamie Q. Roberts, University of Sydney The enduring value of The God Delusion lies in its championing of reasoning and evidence, free speech and thinking for oneself. Why are new wind farms stuck in the doldrums in Australia? Kumuthini Sivathas, Adelaide University ; Susan Stone, Adelaide University Solar and batteries are powering ahead – but wind farms are struggling. There are multiple reasons for this, from politics to construction costs. Medicine and God: how medieval people faced the deadly pneumonic plague Beth Spacey, The University of Queensland Pneumonic plague was feared by humans for centuries before the advent of modern antibiotic treatments. Politics + Society NZ’s next government could be a four-party coalition. Get used to the new normal Grant Duncan, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau As National and Labour slide in the polls to the benefit of smaller parties, politicians, political media and voters will need to adapt to new ways of thinking. Taylor would hold net overseas migration at annual 100,000 for two years in plan hitting students, refugees Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra The radical opposition blueprint – framed against the background of One Nation – would cut temporary visa holders by about 650,000 over four years. How to build an expansion club: the challenges and opportunities for the new NRL and AFL teams Geoff Dickson, La Trobe University Three new clubs are about to join Australia’s two major winter codes. Research shows they face astronomical challenges – and opportunities. Business + Economy Cheap Chinese EVs could soon shake up NZ’s used car market. Are we ready? Kenny Ching, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Chinese EVs are approaching the price of older used petrol vehicles. That could disrupt a whole support industry, from gas stations to mechanics and dealers. Environment + Energy As the planet warms, cities like Bangkok could be increasingly inundated by deadly floods Kimberley Reid, The University of Melbourne Thai authorities have declared a city-wide disaster zone following the deaths of at least 31 people. You’ve probably never heard of synchronous condensers. But they’re essential in the push for renewables Md Ohirul Qays, CQUniversity Australia; Iftekhar Ahmad, Edith Cowan University As ageing coal plants head for retirement, authorities are turning to a century-old technology to stabilise the grid. Science + Technology Where are the best places for life in the cosmos? A universe in a supercomputer yields the answer Luke Barnes, Western Sydney University; Geraint Lewis, University of Sydney; Miroslav Filipovic, Western Sydney University Turns out the Milky Way is as good as it gets. Your Say In reference to your article on the Cornell University case, we have yet another article about the alleged assailants and criminals, while there is only a miniscule amount of attention paid to the victims. How about we hear more about the victims and give the alleged criminals a little less media attention? I’d love to see more articles on the cost of these crimes, with a full and proper breakdown. Maybe then we’ll get some good traction on ways to stop this grubby, predominately male behaviour. Maybe it’s time we published a vast list of all the 'shock, this happened, how could it?' events that have made it into the media over the last two generations, and see how many times and how many known alleged criminals have gotten away with it. Lastly, thank you for the 'Nina Simone', 'Misinformation', 'Friendships', 'Hilary McPhee' and 'Australian Native Bees' articles, these are the articles of vast importance and relevance. — Shirley Allen Read the article I appreciate the effort to offer a more complex view of settler mindsets and politics in Rowse's review of Corr's book Surveying the Wild Abyss. But it reads as settler defensiveness to point to the so-called progressive tradition in Australian politics as an answer to the ongoing violence of colonialism. Humanitarianism is not the same as recognition of Indigenous sovereignty. Endless commissions and inquiries whose recommendations are ignored, ongoing destruction of sacred sites, soaring incarceration and higher rates of child removals than in the Stolen Generations expose an ongoing lack of political will to address the structural nature of dispossession. Yes, there are many allies who support Indigenous justice, but this is usually silently conditional on reforms not 'unsettling' our own political and legal structures. Until we are all willing to face the question of colonial occupation and Indigenous sovereignty, humanitarianism and good intentions will never dismantle the colony. — Dr Laura Griffin Read the article   We'd love to hear from you. Each day we publish an edited selection of your views on our stories. Email us   Featured Events, Courses & Jobs View all Brisbane Writers Festival 8 - 11 October 2026 • New Farm Canberra Writers Festival 15 - 18 October 2026 • The Future of Quantum 21 October 2026 • Carlton Advanced Project Management Course 21 - 28 October 2026 • Sydney Promote your event or course   Contact us here to have your event listed. 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