"We built this city": Darwin's migrant workers speak out on visa changes and belonging

On a Tuesday morning outside the Mitchell Street Markets, Priya Kapoor stands surveying the small supermarket she opened three years ago. Behind her, the colourful awning reads "Kapoor's Fresh"—a fixture now in Larrakeyah that draws customers from across Darwin's northern suburbs. But Kapoor, who arrived from Mumbai on a skilled migration visa in 2022, is anxious about recent changes to Australia's visa framework.

"My visa renewal is in eighteen months," she says, gesturing towards the shelves stocked with South Asian groceries and fresh produce. "Now the government is talking about stricter points requirements. I'm worried they will change the rules again."

Kapoor is one of thousands in Darwin's migrant communities grappling with uncertainty. New Department of Home Affairs data released this month shows skilled migration to Australia down 23 percent year-on-year, with Northern Territory numbers particularly affected. For a city built on transient workforces—particularly in construction, hospitality and healthcare—the shift carries real weight.

The NT Construction Workers Alliance, which operates from a modest office on Cavenagh Street in the CBD, reports membership has stalled at 4,200 members, compared to projections of 5,600 by 2026. Many members are visa-dependent.

"People come here because Darwin needs them," says Maria Santos, a registered nurse at Royal Darwin Hospital who migrated from the Philippines in 2019. "We have shortages. But the messaging from government is confusing. One day they say we're essential workers, the next day they're making it harder to stay."

At the Darwin Multicultural Centre in Fannie Bay, community liaison officer James Chen notes increased foot traffic from anxious migrants seeking visa advice. "We're seeing families make contingency plans," he explains. "Some are looking at other countries—Canada, New Zealand. They feel unwelcome."

Yet not all voices express despair. David Okonkwo, who arrived from Lagos four years ago and now manages a thriving hospitality business near the Waterfront Precinct, argues that scrutiny is reasonable. "Migration should be managed properly," he says. "But Australia should be honest about what it needs. Darwin especially needs workers. Don't invite people, then change the rules."

For now, Darwin's multicultural suburbs—from Larrakeyah's diverse shopfronts to Nightcliff's growing Filipino community—remain vibrant. But underlying anxiety persists. As one construction site supervisor from Bangalore, who declined to be named, put it: "We're building Darwin's future. We just want to know if we're allowed to stay in it."

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