Opposition leader Angus Taylor has said a coalition government would cut net overseas migration to 100,000 over two years, describing the plan as the 'biggest cut in history' for Australian immigration. The plan, tabled by the Liberal and National parties, sets net migration rates at 130,000 in the third year and 160,000 in the fourth year.
According to Taylor, the plan would reduce the number of temporary visa holders by 650,000 people over four years. Current data for the financial year shows 1,766,200 temporary visa holders. Taylor has promised to maintain the skilled migration program at 185,000 places annually.
Humanitarian visas would be reduced to 10,000 places, which is 50 per cent less than the current limit of 20,000. The coalition's policy includes stricter checks on visa applicants, a review of the priority list for temporary skilled workers, and the establishment of a working group to address backlogs in skilled construction applications to address the labour shortage.
The coalition plans to double the allocation for talent and innovation to 7,000 places through a new visa for Aukus and Five Eyes. Each student visa would be linked to the enrolling institution, with a new agricultural visa introduced from 2030. Taylor said the plan would be 'fiscally neutral' and would not weaken the economy, with overseas arrivals linked to the completion of housing in Australia.
Enrolments by international students would be reduced to 240,000, bringing the proportion of international students in higher education institutions below 25 per cent. Temporary graduate visas would be abolished, and most students would be prevented from bringing family members to Australia. Places for skilled workers would be prioritised by profession, income, age, English language proficiency, and full-time work, with a focus on construction.
The coalition would implement an increase in visa fees for working holiday makers, but with exceptions for backpackers willing to work in regional areas, supporting hospitality and agriculture. The leader of the Nationals, Matt Canavan, called the plan 'Australia First' migration plan.
The Labor frontbencher Matt Keogh said the migration cuts would be 'absolutely catastrophic' for the economy and services Australia relies on. Labor's policy, outlined by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke last month, provides for a series of rule changes to reduce net overseas migration to 245,000 in the current financial year and 225,000 in 2027-28. Most students would not be allowed to bring family members, and the so-called visa hopping would be banned, restricting the changes students can make to their enrolment.
One Nation wants to limit net arrivals to 130,000 people per year, following a short initial period of negative net migration. Last month, One Nation announced it would reduce the number of temporary migrants in Australia by more than 750,000 over three years, targeting international students and family members of skilled migrants. Last year, Australia issued more than 337,000 visas to international students, of which about 45,000 went to dependent family members or family members of the main applicant.
