Labor wrestles with migration figures but opponents struggle to find the target
By focusing on the net overseas migration number, Labor risks making a ‘silly mistake’ experts say Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Anyone looking for an indication of just how hot the politics of immigration are running inside federal Labor need only consider what happened on Thursday. Morning newspaper reports confirmed that Labor would cut Australia’s annual refugee…
Political turmoil gripped Australia's federal Labor party as they grappled with recent changes to immigration figures. On Thursday, media reported that the government intended to reduce the annual refugee intake from 20,000 arrivals to 13,750 in the upcoming financial year, sparking alarm among some politicians. This news came after intense pressure from the far-right One Nation party and concerns over infrastructure pressures and housing shortages due to overseas arrivals.
The government's decision to cut humanitarian places was not a new policy, but rather a temporary increase from 13,750 places in 2023. Despite attempts by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to quell the controversy, his overtures did little to quell the outrage. Left-wing faction MPs claimed that the party's caucus had not been consulted, and some MPs even sought explanations from Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke.
In a statement released on Friday, Labor for Refugees praised the prime minister's intervention, expressing gratitude for ensuring Australia's humanity was not forgotten. The incident underscores ongoing political tensions surrounding immigration and the broader reset expected to be announced soon.
Written by urgent.news from The Guardian Australia's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
