Australia has announced a temporary ban on Iranian tourists, preventing thousands of visa holders from entering the country over concerns they may not return home after their visas expire.
The six-month restriction, which takes effect on Thursday, will affect approximately 6,800 Iranian nationals who already hold valid Australian visas. The government said the move is aimed at managing migration risks amid evolving global conditions, particularly in light of instability linked to tensions involving Iran.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke defended the decision, stating: “Decisions about permanent stays in Australia should be deliberate decisions of the government, not a random consequence of who had booked a holiday.”
He added that the government was “acting in the national interest amid rapidly changing global conditions,” noting the pause would provide “time to assess the situation properly, while still allowing flexibility in limited cases.”
Under the policy, exceptions will apply to certain categories, including partners and children of Australian citizens. Burke also said “sympathetic consideration” may be extended to parents of Australian citizens, adding that the decision was made in consultation with members of the Australian-Iranian community.
The measure follows recent legislation introduced earlier this month allowing Australia to block visa holders from specified countries. On the same day the legislation was passed, the government granted humanitarian visas to seven members of Iran’s women’s football delegation, five of whom later returned to Iran.
However, the move has drawn sharp criticism from opposition figures and advocacy groups, who argue it undermines Australia’s migration system and moral standing.
Jana Favero, Deputy CEO of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, described the decision as a “massive betrayal of the Iranian community, and a breathtaking moral failure.”
“In the moment that people need safety the most and their country is being torn apart, the Albanese government is slamming the door closed on people from Iran,” Favero said.
Independent MP Zali Steggall also raised concerns about the legal framework behind the policy, warning that it grants the government “sweeping, unchecked” powers that should be amended.
“Invalidating lawfully obtained visas undermines confidence in our entire migration system and sets a dangerous precedent,” she said.
The Australian Greens echoed similar concerns, criticising the government’s broader stance on Iran.
Senator David Shoebridge said the measure “puts the lie to the pretence that [the] Labor [government] is supporting the illegal US and Israeli war on Iran to help the Iranian people.”
“Today, we see with 100% clarity what the Albanese government thinks of the safety of the Iranian people as they shut the door on protection for people with a visa to come here,” he added.
The restriction applies exclusively to Iranian nationals and does not extend to citizens of any other country.
Boluwatife Enome
