18 September 2026

Immigration reforms risk making it harder for women on temporary visas to find safety.

At a time when multicultural and migrant communities are under increasing attack by some
politicians and media, the Government should focus on making laws that promote inclusion,
safety and fairness for all people who call Australia home.

Immigration reforms announced by the Australian Government yesterday are alarming and are
likely to make people on temporary visas more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.

As the peak body for Women’s Legal Services, we are concerned that these reforms will have
gendered impacts. In particular, that they will deny some women experiencing gender-based
violence an equal chance to find safety and stay safe because of their visa status.

No person experiencing family violence should face additional barriers to safety and recovery
because of their visa status.

One in three migrant and refugee women in Australia have experienced domestic and family
violence. For women on temporary visas, that figure rises to 40 per cent. For many, the legal
and migration systems act as barriers to safety.

The Government’s proposed reforms, with a focus on detention and deportation, risk making it
even harder for women living in Australia on temporary visas trying to escape and recover from
gendered violence.

In doing so, they risk undercutting the Government’s ambitions for a Second Action Plan that
ends violence against all women and children. The Government’s announcement suggests that updates to Ministerial Direction 110 will better protect victims of domestic and family violence. Ministerial Direction 110 is focused on visa refusal and cancellation considerations, not on ensuring pathways to safety for victim-survivors.

Women’s Legal Services Australia has outlined a number of positive reforms to Australia’s
immigration system that would ensure women are not trapped in violence because of their visa. These include a substantive family violence visa and access to essential services, including health, housing and legal services.

Now, these reforms are more urgent than ever.

Women’s Legal Services Australia calls on the Australian Government not to proceed with
reforms that will make people on temporary visas more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse and
to instead focus on reforms that promote the safety and dignity of all, regardless of visa status.

Media contact: wlsamedia@womenslegal.org.au