Australia's Immigration Minister Rejects 'Mass Migration' Claims Amid Policy Overhaul
Tony Burke states migration levels have fallen from their post-pandemic peak, emphasizing the economic necessity of targeted immigration.
Immigration Minister Tony Burke has refuted claims that Australia is experiencing 'mass migration,' asserting that current levels have significantly decreased from their post-pandemic peak. He argued that drastic cuts to immigration would harm the Australian economy.
"There are parts of the world where mass migration is something that they are dealing with. It is not something we're dealing with in Australia," Burke stated, adding that the recent peak was temporary and driven by border re-openings. "There was a peak post-pandemic, which was too high. There are reasons why it was too high and reasons why, logically, there was always going to be a peak."
Burke emphasized the critical role of immigration in supporting Australia's economy, highlighting its importance for both regional areas and major cities. "It is true that immigration is critical to the economy of our regions. It is also true that immigration is critical to the economy of our cities as well," he said.
He pointed to the international education sector as an example, noting that it supports jobs beyond universities, including those for cleaners, maintenance workers, and businesses frequented by international students. "There's a whole section of the economy in the cities that is only there because we have an important export industry in international students," Burke explained. "Drastic cuts, wherever you make them, hurt the economy in every part, in every area."
The minister stressed that any adjustments to migration levels must consider the economic consequences. He cited the construction industry as a prime example of Australia's reliance on overseas-born workers, stating, "We talk about the need for extra housing. It's pretty hard to get a house built without having a plasterer involved." He noted that in Sydney and Melbourne, close to two-thirds of plasterers are foreign-born.
"We need immigration. We just need to make sure that it is targeted to Australia's needs, both in terms of numbers and across the different categories that work for our economy," Burke concluded.
However, Burke acknowledged issues with 'visa hopping,' where individuals move between temporary visas without qualifying for permanent residency. He described a scenario where migrants might repeatedly use appeal processes to remain in the country, sometimes becoming integrated into the community with Australian-citizen children.
Latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicate a decline in net overseas migration, falling to 292,100 in the year to March 2026, down from 309,500 in the preceding 12-month period. Despite this decrease, Australia's population grew by 392,700 to a total of 27.9 million people.
The government's forthcoming policy changes aim to cut net overseas migration to 245,000 in 2026-27 and 225,000 the following year. These reforms are expected to include stricter measures for international students regarding family members and a crackdown on visa-hopping.