Coalition Pledges Major Immigration Cuts, Sparking Political Debate
Opposition leader unveils plan to significantly reduce net migration, drawing sharp criticism from a rival party.
Australia's opposition coalition has announced plans to drastically cut the country's net migrant intake, proposing a reduction to approximately one-third of current levels. The plan, detailed by Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, aims to lower net overseas migration from nearly 300,000 annually to about 100,000 in the first year after the next election. This figure would then settle at 160,000 per year over four years.
The coalition also intends to halve the annual refugee intake from 20,000 to 10,000. "What we are proposing today is the biggest cut to immigration in the history of this country," Taylor stated, attributing the necessity of these cuts to perceived failures of the current Labor government.
The proposal comes as the anti-immigration One Nation party gains traction, influencing the political discourse around migration and potentially affecting the coalition's voter base. One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has claimed that the coalition's policy infringes upon her party's platform.
The coalition's plan includes measures to prevent 'visa hopping,' a practice where individuals on expiring visas apply for new ones or file appeals to extend their stay within Australia, effectively aiming to eliminate bridging visas. "We will regain control of our borders, we will regain control of immigration in this country, and we will ensure that immigration policy is in the interests of our great country and no one else," Taylor said.
According to the coalition, the reduction in temporary visa holders, excluding New Zealand citizens, could decrease by around 650,000 over four years, potentially boosting the federal budget by approximately $260 million. The coalition believes these cuts will positively impact the economy by better aligning immigration with Australia's skill needs.
Specific policy changes include the abolition of temporary graduate visas and a reduction in student visas from 528,800 in 2025/26 to 456,200 by 2031/32. The humanitarian intake would be reduced to 10,000 annually, with onshore applicants given a maximum of 30 days to submit their applications. Working holiday maker visas are slated for a cut of 23,700 by 2031/32, alongside increased fees for non-regional visa holders. Conversely, the plan outlines an additional 15,000 skilled visas for major projects and the introduction of a new agriculture visa from 2030. Family reunion visas would remain unchanged.
Senator Hanson criticized the coalition's proposal, suggesting it mirrors One Nation's policies. "The coalition has turned up late to the grand final after both teams have headed back to the change rooms, waving a photocopy of One Nation's immigration policy," she commented, questioning the major parties' ability to resolve immigration issues they helped create.
The coalition plans to release detailed costings closer to the 2028 election, pending further government forecasts on net overseas migration.