Opposition Pledges to Cut Australia’s Net Migration to 100,000 per Year

The Coalition has announced its “Australia-first” migration plan with moves to dramatically cut net migration and temporary visa places.

Following the release of One Nation and the Labor government’s plans, the centre-right party has pledged to cut net migration to 100,000 per year—around one third of the current intake.

The number of temporary visa holders will also be cut to around 650,000 spots over four years. In December, the government reported more than 3 million temporary visa holders in Australia.

International student commencements will also be reduced to 240,000 from the current level of 295,000.

While temporary graduate visas will also be scrapped with student visa numbers reduced from 528,000 to 456,000.

The Coalition says it will restrict “most secondary applicants, which are expected to reduce the share of foreign students in higher education to below 25 percent.

“Students completing PhDs, studying health or education, or studying at regional universities will have access to post-study transitional visas.

“Australia welcomes students from overseas to study for a period of time, not to stay permanently. But around half of international students are still living in Australia 10 years after starting their studies. This will end under a Liberal and Nationals government.”

The humanitarian intake will also be halved to 10,000 places a year.

Pledge to Scrap Labor’s Backpacker Plan

The party says it will reverse Labor’s plan to cap backpacker numbers, and instead, increase visa fees for working holidaymakers choosing to work in non-regional areas.

No changes would be made to the permanent family reunion visa program, but it will restrict the ability of some temporary visa holders, including international students, to bring family members to Australia.

Further, skilled migration will be prioritised with a new specialist “Skills in Demand Visa,” allowing for 5,000 more highly skilled workers to enter each year—there will also be 15,000 Skilled Project Visas for major projects.

Additionally, second and subsequent temporary visa applications will need to be made offshore in order to prevent “visa hopping”—a practice where individuals prolong their stay by switching visas.

Onshore protection visa applications will need to be made within 30 days of a person arriving in the country.

The Coalition says the move would “virtually eliminate” bridging visas, while Home Affairs would also be tasked with investigating international students violating visa rules.

The plan is expected, according to the opposition, to provide a $260 million boost to the national economy over four years, in part because highly skilled migrants—who would be prioritised—pay more tax than those who are less skilled.

“We need skilled migration, not mass migration. We will prioritise migrants with the skills Australia needs, who share our values and are committed to contributing to our country,” Opposition Leader Angus Taylor said in a statement.

“Migration should strengthen our economy, fill critical skills gaps and help build a better Australia.

“It should not put further pressure on housing and essential services or leave Australians worse off.”

Nationals Leader Matthew Canavan said migration should take the skills the country needs without undermining opportunities for Australians.

“Labor’s mass migration has pushed down wages, hurt living standards and led to a temporary guest worker class that is eroding our social harmony.”

One Nation, Labor Respond

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson accused the Coalition of turning up late to the party.

“Their plan is to build more houses, then bring in more people to compete for them,” she said on social media.

“Who trusts the major parties that created this mess to fix it anyway?”

Labor frontbencher Matt Keogh reportedly told media that the Coalition’s planned migration cuts would be “absolutely catastrophic” for the economy.

Labor’s plan, released weeks ago, proposes bringing net overseas migration down to 225,000 a year from 2027, while also placing restrictions on students’ family members, tightening temporary visa rules, and cracking down on overstayers.

Backpackers will feel the brunt of Labor’s overhaul with a new cap of 45,000 slots for second-year working holidaymakers to be allowed and decided by ballot.

Third year allocations will be reduced to 5,000 spots.

One Nation, on the other hand, has proposed three years of net-negative migration, followed by a net overseas migration cap of 130,000 and a reduction of 750,000 temporary migrants over three years with major cuts to international student and graduate visas.

One Nation’s policy would not bring any changes to the working backpacker scheme currently in place.