Taylor would hold net overseas migration at annual 100,000 for two years in plan hitting students, refugees
- Written by: Weekend Times
A Coalition government would slash Net Overseas Migration (NOM) to 100,000 in each of 2028–29 and 2029–30, rising to 130,000 in the third year and flattening out at 160,000 by 2031–32.
The radical opposition blueprint – framed against the background of One Nation’s exploitation of the immigration issue – would cut temporary visa holders by about 650,000 over four years. This would reduce “core” temporaries by about a third. (“Core” temporaries exclude visitors and New Zealanders.)
The refugee intake would be slashed in half – from 20,000 a year to 10,000 annually – under the long-awaited Coalition policy, released by the opposition on Tuesday.
Those seeking protection visas who are on-shore would have to apply within 30 days, and review procedures would be tightened.
The permanent migration program would be capped at its present level of 185,000 places a year.
Despite the overall reduction in temporary visas, the temporary skilled intake would be boosted, with an increase of more than 60,000 over four years.
Visas for working holiday makers would take only a minor trim, shielded by the Nationals, looking to their regional constituency. A Coalition government would scrap the recently announced government ballot for longer-staying holiday makers.
Those on temporary visas who wanted to extend their stays with a second or later visa would have to make their applications from offshore. The opposition said this would attack “visa hopping”. But working holiday makers would be able to apply for second and third year visas while onshore.
Temporary graduate visas would be scrapped.
International student migration would be cut by restricting most secondary applicants. The opposition says its measures would reduce the share of foreign students in higher education to below 25%. In 2024 this figure was 31%.
Students completing PhDs, studying health and education, or at regional universities would be able to get post-study transitional visas.
The coalition would cut international student commencements to 240,000.
“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 ten years after starting their studies. This will end under a Liberal and Nationals government.”
The coalition would bring in a specialist stream of the “skills in-demand” visa that would import up to 5,000 more skilled workers annually, and it would create 15,000 “skilled project” visas a year. These workers would be tied to specific projects to plug shortages.
Opposition leader Angus Taylor said the opposition plan would represent the largest cut to immigration in Australia’s history.
He said the policy, which the opposition worked on with the Parliamentary Budget Office, was budget neutral.
The opposition said in the longer term the cap on the permanent program could be reduced if that was needed to keep migration below housing completions, which are linked in Coalition policy.
It said that at 100,000 a year the NOM “would be the lowest outside the pandemic since 2004”, during the Howard government.
“After four years, the plan would maintain the migration rate as a share of the population below the average under the Howard government.”
Taylor rejected fears the proposed cuts to migration would hit the economy.
“It’s a budget neutral package and it will strengthen the economy, not weaken it.”
The opposition plan is not as drastic as that of One Nation, which would have net negative migration for a period.
Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
