A government shuffle leaves the rules of student visas unclear. Amid escalating visa prices and housing concerns, modifications to the immigration portfolio are intended to address difficulties affecting skilled and student visas.

Tony Burke has been nominated by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to oversee a new “super portfolio” that integrates immigration and home affairs, following a recent cabinet shift.

Burke, who held the position of minister for labor relations and employment before, will now oversee two of the most contentious political issues from one ministry. The goal of this action is to combat immigration concerns and keep up the pressure on the Coalition in the run-up to the federal election.

The policies pertaining to skilled and student visas remain unclear even with this shift. Although some immigration issues are addressed by the reshuffle, many doubts about the future of these visa programs remain unanswered, according to the former deputy secretary of the immigration department. A clear long-term vision for the university sector is important, and the next minister must navigate the difficult challenge of overseeing these policies amid persistent controversy.

Significant changes have also been made to other cabinet portfolios as part of the reshuffle. Julie Collins will transition from housing to agriculture, Murray Watt will take on employment and worker relations, and Malarndirri McCarthy will succeed Linda Burney as the minister for Indigenous Australians. After managing immigration and home affairs, respectively, Andrew Giles and Clare O’Neil will now take on housing and skill development.

The government’s cap on the number of international students and recent increases in immigration fees are of particular concern to universities and other stakeholders. These modifications have drawn criticism and brought attention to the necessity of approaching international education strategically. The relocation of ASIO, the country’s premier spy agency, to the attorney general’s office is another change in the way immigration and national security are handled as part of the reorganization.

The reshuffle has drawn criticism from the opposition, which has referred to it as a “shuffling of deck chairs” and questioned how the administration handled the High Court decision ending indefinite detention, which sparked media attention and political turmoil.