Canberra, September 18. Students have staged demonstrations in several Australian cities against proposed changes to the country’s immigration policy. The protests were organized after the One Nation party announced plans to significantly reduce the number of temporary visas and overall migration.
A demonstration titled “Students Say No to Hanson” was held at Garema Place in Canberra on Thursday afternoon. The protest was organized by High School Anti-Capitalists, with students expressing opposition to the immigration proposals put forward by One Nation leader Pauline Hanson.
The September 17 protest was a continuation of a nationwide student movement held on August 13. During the earlier demonstrations, high school and university students in cities including Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane walked out of classes and took to the streets.
Students also demonstrated in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Darwin and Hobart during the latest round of protests. More than 1,000 people reportedly took part in the demonstration in Sydney, while hundreds of students participated in Melbourne.
On September 14, One Nation unveiled a plan to reduce the number of temporary visas in Australia by more than 750,000 over the next three years. The party has presented the proposal as a key component of its immigration policy.
Under the proposed changes, the annual number of student visas would be reduced from around 291,000 to 115,000. The party has also proposed reducing the number of graduate visas available to international students after completing their studies, as well as visas for students’ family members.
The proposals have sparked further debate among international students, universities and multicultural communities. Students participating in Thursday’s demonstrations voiced opposition to One Nation’s positions on immigration, multiculturalism and social rights.
The first nationwide student protests in August were organized with the involvement of student groups, including the National Union of Students. Students in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane boycotted classes as part of the campaign.
Tensions reportedly emerged at some locations between One Nation supporters and protesters during the August demonstrations, prompting police intervention in some areas. Following those protests, student groups announced plans for another round of demonstrations on September 17, with Garema Place selected as the Canberra venue.
The protests have also taken place against the backdrop of growing support for One Nation. A Roy Morgan poll conducted from September 7 to 13 recorded 25 percent primary support for the party. The survey covered 1,583 voters across Australia.
One Nation and Pauline Hanson have continued to defend their political positions in response to criticism from students and others over the proposed immigration measures. Following the August protests, Hanson said that she and her party were working with the future of young people in mind.
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