AU Edition - Today's top story: Grattan on Friday: Burke delivers overdue migration baby, but is it sturdy enough to withstand the critics? September 18, 2026 AU Edition   Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has finally unveiled the Albanese government’s immigration policy, after a six-week delay. Some will no doubt say the measures go too far, while others will argue they don’t go far enough. Burke himself admits it doesn’t contain all he’d wanted, but Michelle Grattan says it nonetheless tackles some problems. She writes the government’s changes to prioritise skilled workers in health care and construction should have been done years ago. Families of most international students will no longer be given entry to Australia, which will make things harder for some and discourage others. Education policy experts Peter Hurley and Melinda Hildebrandt say it’s part of the government’s long push to lower international student numbers. They warn we shouldn’t ignore the significant role international students play in our job market and economy: apart from the fees they pay, they could also be your baker or your carer.   Amanda Dunn Politics + Society Editor   Grattan on Friday: Burke delivers overdue migration baby, but is it sturdy enough to withstand the critics? Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra The government will be wedged between those who think the changes don’t go far enough and critics who believe they’re draconian. Life just got tougher for international students under new visa rules. Why is this group being targeted? Peter Hurley, Victoria University; Melinda Hildebrandt, Victoria University The federal government will make it harder for international students to bring their families with them to Australia, among other changes. Migration changes to hit students’ families and working holiday makers Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra The long awaited overhaul comes as new figures show net migration continuing to fall. What does a good data centre future look like? And how do we get there? Matthew Benetti, Climateworks Centre; Eleanor Guerra, Climateworks Centre The decisions we make today will shape Australia’s future for decades. Politics with Michelle Grattan: Matt Canavan on why One Nation is ‘not really compatible’ as a Coalition partner Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra The Nationals leader said he’ll do ‘whatever it takes’ to beat the Labor government – including not ruling out a move to the lower house before the next election. Australia’s ‘barking mad’ bet on nuclear submarines – the AUKUS deal five years on Isabella Podwinski, The Conversation; Justin Bergman, The Conversation On The Conversation Weekly podcast, defence and security analyst Hugh White explains why the AUKUS project has been anything but smooth sailing. Friday essay: how Australia’s ‘invasion novels’ have reflected our cultural anxieties around race Felicity Castagna, Western Sydney University Foreign ‘invasion plots’ have featured in Australian literature for more than a century. Though critiqued by some authors, fears of white erasure endure. Whyalla may make steel again one day. But years of uncertainty could still reshape the town Hedda Haugen Askland, University of Newcastle Whether steelmaking returns to Whyalla is only part of the story. The intervening years could have consequences of their own, and the community will need support. 7 of the weirdest things coffee does to your body Emma Beckett, Australian Catholic University Coffee doesn’t just make you feel more alert. Here’s what else happens when you drink a cuppa. Politics + Society Is Australia’s ‘voracious’ illicit drug use behind organised crime violence? It’s complicated Alex Simpson, Macquarie University The escalation of organised crime violence could be due to a multitude of reasons – including illicit drug consumption. Unlikely political bedfellows team up against Albanese over staff Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra While they wouldn’t normally be caught dead together, Pauline Hanson, Fatima Payman and Dai Le have held a joint press conference to take aim at the prime minister. Travelling with kids: how can you minimise jet lag with your little ones? Madeline Sprajcer, CQUniversity Australia; Dean J. Miller, CQUniversity Australia Travelling with kids isn’t easy and jet lag can be particularly painful. There are ways to make it easier. Health + Medicine What happens when a neighbourhood bottle store closes? We asked local residents Stephen Randerson, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University As alcohol licensing laws face change, new research suggests closing individual outlets can bring noticeable benefits for nearby residents. This sponge has holes. Some find that truly disgusting Simone Hain, University of Technology Sydney; Macquarie University Trypophobia is more than an internet meme. It is a genuine psychological experience that can range from mild discomfort to significant distress. Business + Economy Making a claim at the Fair Work Commission? These are the new AI rules you need to follow Guzyal Hill, The University of Melbourne Trusting AI too blindly could end up costing you money – and see your legal case dismissed. Will El Niño send food prices soaring this summer? Don Gunasekera, Deakin University This year’s El Niño is likely to be the strongest on record. That would boost some fruit supplies – but it could also push up wheat, sugar and beef prices. Education What major tests like PISA and NAPLAN get wrong about Indigenous students Peter Anderson, University of New England; Angela Baeza Pena, The University of Queensland; Bronwyn Fredericks, The University of Queensland; Levon Ellen Blue, The University of Queensland The numbers that show Indigenous students ‘behind’ their non-Indigenous peers are accurate. But they only tell part of the story. Environment + Energy From war to weather, Australian farmers are planting spring crops in an uncertain world Katharina Belt, The University of Western Australia; Samantha Harvie, The University of Western Australia Growers across the country are grappling with surging fuel prices and inconsistent rainfall. Why the story of urchin barrens and kelp forests is more complex than we thought Jeremy Day, University of Newcastle; University of Tokyo Sea urchins eat kelp – but new research shows their diets and relationships with kelp forests are more complex than commonly thought. Science + Technology Australia’s vast Nullarbor Plain hides deep caves that can teach us about alien worlds Milo Barham, Curtin University; Matej Lipar, ZRC SAZU; Curtin University It might appear featureless, but one of the world’s largest limestone regions hides a remarkable underground world. Why do some robots feel creepy? We deliberately built one to find out Jessica Turner, University of Waikato; Jemma König, University of Waikato; Nicholas Vanderschantz, University of Waikato Why do some people perceive a robot as ‘creepy’ while others don’t? It seems our response to these increasingly common non-human companions is highly subjective. An opt-out system for AI companies to access creative works doesn’t gel with Australia’s copyright laws. Here’s why Dilan Thampapillai, University of Wollongong What’s at play is investment from big AI companies versus the long-term interests of Australian creatives. Peptides are spreading on social media. Here’s how platforms can better protect public health Timothy Piatkowski, The University of Queensland; Cheneal Puljević, The University of Queensland; Luke Cox, Swansea University; Samuel Cornell, The University of Queensland Social media platforms are the easiest place for a curious 16-year-old to find someone selling peptides. Arts + Culture Pirates were far more diverse than Blackbeard. And they didn’t say ‘arrr’, matey Kristie Patricia Flannery, Australian Catholic University Talk Like A Pirate Day is one of the internet’s favourite holidays. But who were these infamous seafarers and how did they really talk? Your Say Thanks to The Conversation and Professor Brent Ritchie for a valuable analysis in ‘Want to help Nepal recover from its deadly floods? Here’s what tourists need to know’. The grounding in research underpinning the insights makes this a great piece. But I'm always keen to get to the structural justice issues of tourism in this era of climate change. How long can we keep promoting the conduct and even expansion of long-haul tourism when this disaster is in part caused by non-vital consumption of fossil fuels? Yes, Nepal is tourism dependent. Shouldn't that direct our attention to reducing that vulnerable dependency? Considering when tourists should return is offering short-term solutions to long-term issues. Glaciers don't stand a chance in our warming, destabilised world. — Freya Higgins-Desbiolles Read the article In all the attacks by Pauline Hanson and overall lack of nuance in the discussion on immigration – highlighted in the piece 'How would One Nation’s immigration plan affect the labour market and economy?' – there is little mention of the gig economy and who is driving it. The people who are doing this work are often not driving labelled vans or wearing identifiable uniforms. How do we know if they are insured or not being trafficked? I would like to see laws that ensure all Australian workers get a fair deal and work under clear and transparent laws that protect them. — Jane Davis 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