Late-arriving migration shake-up sparks business alarm

Late-arriving migration shake-up sparks business alarm as Australia aims to reduce population growth. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke plans to unveil strategies to decrease Australia's migration intake from around 300,000 in 2025 to 225,000 within two years. Industry leaders warn against hasty changes that could cripple stretched workforces.

Australian Hotels Association chief James Goodwin stresses the need to crack down on system abuse. Former immigration department deputy secretary Abul Rizvi criticizes the government's delay in addressing post-pandemic migration surge, which reached 555,000 in the year to July 2023. One Nation proposes cutting three-quarters of a million migrants over three years, while the coalition seeks to reduce net overseas migration to 170,000 annually, aligning with housing construction.

Rizvi warns that governments could make a "stupid decision" in implementing migration changes, emphasizing the need for long-term action.