Australia’s Labor government plans to reduce its annual humanitarian refugee intake from 20,000 to 13,750 by 2027–28, as part of broader efforts to lower net overseas migration. The move matters because it marks a significant retreat from the higher refugee target adopted under Labor and comes amid political pressure over migration policy and resettlement capacity.

The reduction has already been included in projections for net overseas migration to fall to 225,000 in 2027–28, although wider migration reforms remain unresolved after cabinet disagreements delayed an announcement. Anthony Albanese also said Australia would honour its UK free-trade agreement and would not restore regional-work requirements for British backpackers, whose numbers reportedly rose from about 47,000 to 80,000 after the rules changed.