CANBERRA, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Australia's migrant intake has hit the lowest level in over a decade, a report has revealed.
According to a Department of Home Affairs report released on Friday, the number of people allowed into Australia under the migration program in 2017-18 was 162,417, a 10 percent fall from 183,608 the previous year.
It marks the lowest number of migrants entering Australia since 2006-07.
The total decrease of 21,000 also represents the largest single-year decrease in more than a decade.
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the Department of Home Affairs should act as a "recruitment agency for Australia to bring in the best and brightest," according to News Corp Australia on Friday.
The significant fall is the result of a crackdown on fraudulent claims and a rise in the number of visas refused by the government under integrity measures introduced by Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton.
According to the report, the number of visas being refused went up 46 percent under the new system and the number of applications withdrawn under greater scrutiny rose 17 percent.
The most significant reduction was in the family stream with those visas, including spousal visas, cut 15 percent to 47,732.
The number of skilled migrants also fell significantly, down 12,468 to 111,099.
