Take two: Labor to announce migration plan after delay

Labor will announce a migration plan on Thursday, more than a month after initial plans were canceled, according to Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke. The government aims to reduce net overseas migration from 300,000 in 2025 to 245,000 in 2026/27 and 225,000 per year thereafter. During Question Time on Wednesday, Burke emphasized the need to bring down the numbers in a "sensible, targeted way" that benefits the Australian economy.

While Labor has previously overshot its migration forecasts due to a rise in visa hopping and vexatious asylum applications, they have made quiet adjustments through ministerial directives to control net migration without legislative changes. Recent negotiations with the coalition for a comprehensive legislative package have failed, leading to regulatory tweaks instead.

However, these changes have raised concerns among employers, particularly farmers and construction firms, who are facing labor shortages as a result of processing freezes and reduced offshore applications for skilled migrants. One Nation's migration plan would maintain the current working holiday visa intake but temporarily bring net migration into negative territory before settling at 130,000 per year.

Opposition parties have expressed skepticism about Labor's ability to deliver a well-costed and effective migration plan.