Coalition sets out staged migration cuts as Labor and One Nation push limits
The Coalition plans to cut Australia’s net overseas migration from about 300,000 a year to 100,000 for each of its first two years in office, then allow it to rise to 130,000 and 160,000. Labor and One Nation have also proposed restrictions, making immigration a major point of political dispute over who can move to Australia and the scale of future arrivals.
The Coalition would reduce temporary visa holders by 650,000 over four years, scrap temporary graduate visas and halve the humanitarian intake to 10,000. It would lower student numbers from 528,000 to 456,000, cut working holiday places, and add 15,000 skilled visas for major projects. Labor’s existing target is 245,000 in July 2027 and 225,000 a year afterwards; One Nation proposes cuts of 750,000 over three years, including reducing student visa grants from more than 290,000 to 115,000 annually.
- Coalition aims to cut net migration to 100,000 a year initially.
- Its plan would reduce temporary visa holders by 650,000 over four years.
- Labor and One Nation have set out different restrictions and targets.
New here? Start with this
Australia's net overseas migration—the number of people moving to the country minus those leaving—has reached around 300,000 annually in recent years. This level of immigration influences Australia's economic growth, workforce availability, housing demand, and the strain on public services.
Three major Australian political parties have proposed restrictions on immigration. The Coalition, Labor, and One Nation each have different targets for how many migrants Australia should accept, reflecting disagreement about whether current levels are sustainable.
Immigration has become a central political battleground in Australia because it affects almost every aspect of national life, from economic productivity to housing costs to community integration. Each party is competing to convince voters they have the right approach to managing Australia's population growth.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Australia needs sustained migration to address labour shortages in critical sectors, support an ageing population facing demographic decline, and drive economic growth. Migration brings innovation, expands the tax base, and provides significant economic returns through international education and consumer demand, particularly benefiting regions facing decline.
The case against
Rapid migration has outpaced Australia's capacity to expand housing, transport, and public services, pricing existing residents out of the property market and straining schools and hospitals. Lower migration levels allow time for sustainable infrastructure development, proper community integration, and protection of local workers' wages and conditions, ensuring both new and existing residents are served fairly.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Immigration showdown: How Labor, the Coalition and One Nation plan to dramatically reshape who comes to Australia”.