Opposition leader Angus Taylor is set to introduce a revised immigration policy aimed at competing with One Nation's proposals. The plan, expected to be presented to the Coalition partyroom on Tuesday, reportedly seeks to lower net migration to well below 150,000 in the first year of a potential Coalition government, with a slight increase to 160,000 by the fourth year.
Sources indicate that the Coalition's strategy involves stricter measures against overstayers and visa hoppers, as well as a re-evaluation of student visas, temporary non-essential worker visas, and visas for family reunification. The policy is also expected to prioritize highly skilled migrants over those with lower skill sets, marking a shift from current approaches.
This move directly challenges One Nation's proposed net overseas migration target of 130,000. Party leader Pauline Hanson has advocated for a 'net negative' migration goal, specifically calling for reductions in student visas, which she contends are used as a pathway to permanent residency or low-wage employment. One Nation has also expressed concerns about skilled visas enabling foreign labor to undercut local workers.
Economists have previously cautioned that One Nation's immigration policy could lead to a nearly $420 billion increase in Australia's national debt over a decade. In contrast, the current Labor government has set a net overseas migration target of 245,000 for the 2026-27 financial year, with plans to reduce it to 225,000 annually from mid-2028.
A recent Newspoll indicated that a significant majority of Australians, approximately two-thirds, desire a reduction in the annual number of immigrants. Only a small percentage of voters expressed a preference for an increase in immigration levels.