Burden on healthcare or boon for childcare: How could parent visa impact Australia?

Federal Elections 2025: Parent visa promises

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently suggested that Labor would consider changes to visa rules to help reduce the growing backlog. Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton stated that his promise to reduce permanent migration would not impact the parent visa quota. While the conversation is multifaceted, experts continue to highlight the social and economic benefits of having grandparents present in households.

Key Points

Concerns over high medical costs of elderly migrants.
Having grandparents in the household can increase workforce participation among migrant women and reduce the need for childcare, says expert.
The current wait time for a parent visa is approximately 31 years.

Despite both parties showing an inclination towards parent visas,

more than 151,590 visa applications are pending with the government

from migrant families who wish to bring their parents to Australia.

The average wait time for these visas is 31 years, which can go up to 50 years in some cases.

A Migration Review commissioned by Labor in 2022 described the parent visa system as cruel and unnecessary.

'Gender roles, lack of family support': Migrant mums claim returning to the office is more difficult for them

Apart from high wait times, the Parent Visas are surrounded by debate about the cost of having elderly migrants in the nation.

Speaking to SBS Punjabi earlier

, Julian Hill, the Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs had said, "When people come late in life not having paid taxes or worked in a country — it does not have to be Australia; it could be any country — they run up age pension costs, aged care, health system costs."

Rajwant Singh, a parent visa expert and registered migration agent, believes the equation is not as simple.

Rajwant Singh is a migration agent and parent visa expert. Credit: Supplied by Mr Singh

He claims many cultural factors need to be considered, too.

"Having grandparents would help young families. This could help increase participation of young migrant mums in the workforce and can reduce the need for childcare as well."

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