130,000 people: One Nation clarifies plan for major migration cut
A key detail behind One Nation's headline migration pledge has now come into focus.
One Nation has announced its intention to limit annual immigration to Australia to 130,000 people, according to the net overseas migration forecast. Australia's immigration policy is a contentious issue in federal politics, as the country grapples with housing shortages and increased demand on services, particularly in suburban areas.
Migration experts have cautioned against politicians blaming migrants for housing shortages, emphasizing the importance of migrant workforces in constructing the needed housing infrastructure. The net overseas migration figure is calculated by estimating the number of people entering and leaving the country, encompassing returning Australians.
This measure incorporates various visa categories, such as visitor and tourist options, family and partner visas, working holidaymakers, skilled migration, refugee and humanitarian programs. Under the previous Labor government, net overseas migration peaked at 556,000 in 2023, following the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Labor has since tightened restrictions, projecting the figure to decline to 225,000 by the 2027-2028 financial year.
The government is preparing to release a plan to adjust migration policies to align with the net overseas migration forecast. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke was scheduled to unveil the plan at the National Press Club last week but delayed its release due to political concerns about cutting specific programs. One Nation's proposed cap of 130,000 annual visas aims to alleviate pressure on housing, wages, and infrastructure.
A spokesperson for One Nation confirmed to SBS World News that the cap will apply to net overseas migration, representing a significant decrease from the current levels. While the government contends that these changes will not adversely impact productivity nationwide, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson asserts that the government has overly depended on migration to sustain the economy.
Nationals and senior Liberal members have distanced themselves from the Opposition's housing minister's proposed 180,000 cap, with Nationals leader Matt Canavan expressing reservations about reducing the regional workforce. Opposition leader Angus Taylor dismissed Andrew Bragg's speech as personal views, without having reviewed the content beforehand.
Written by urgent.news from SBS News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
