Albanese Overrules Minister, Maintains Australia's Refugee Intake at 20,000

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared that Australia's annual refugee intake will not be reduced next year, overruling earlier indications from the office of Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke that the figure would be cut by 6,250 places.

The government's commitment to an annual intake of 20,000 refugees remains in place, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's office. The current intake level was established in 2023 and was set for a four-year period. Without intervention, the intake was scheduled to revert to 13,750 from the beginning of the 2027-28 financial year.

'The refugee intake needs to be renewed in the coming budget, as the 20,000 places was available for four years,' Mr Albanese said. 'This intake number remains government policy and will be continued in future years, consistent with Australia's humanitarian commitments and sits beside our strong border security measures.'

Advocacy groups had expressed outrage at the prospect of reduced numbers, with Settlement Services International chief executive Violet Roumeliotis stating that cuts would lead to prolonged uncertainty and family separation for thousands overseas. The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre criticized the government, accusing it of allowing far-right political discourse to influence policy decisions. Greens Senator David Shoebridge also commented, suggesting the Labor government was appeasing minor right-wing parties.

'Behind every place cut is a family left waiting longer to be reunited with parents, children, siblings and loved ones they may not have seen for years,' Ms Roumeliotis said. 'These are people who have already endured conflict, persecution and displacement, and who are simply hoping for the chance to be together again.'

The debate comes a month after the Labor Party's national conference, where delegates supported maintaining the 20,000-place humanitarian intake and even aimed to increase it to 27,000 annually. Mr Albanese stated that the government's consideration of intake numbers predated any recent rise in support for the One Nation party.