Australia Weighs Migration Policy Amid Calls for Population Reset

Australia is grappling with its migration policy as Labor and One Nation present different visions for what a migration program in the national interest looks like.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson announced a plan to cut temporary migrants by over 750,000 over three years by targeting international students and family members of skilled migrants. This would require net overseas migration (Nom) to turn negative for three years before implementing an ongoing cap of 130,000.

Labor's home affairs minister Tony Burke said One Nation's plan would 'trash Australian services and trash the Australian economy.'

Hanson blames Australia's high population growth over the past few years for the economy's woes, pointing to Canada as a possible model. She argues that Canadians have seen their living standards improve when migration is cut.

Canada has been adjusting its migration policy to reduce temporary migrants as a share of population from 7.6% in 2024 to 5%. The country has seen a dramatic reduction in annual net international migration, with population growth slowing from 3.1% in early 2024 to just 0.5% now.

Economists warn that Canada's experience may not be replicated in Australia due to differences in the size of post-pandemic surges and labour market conditions. Canadian policymakers have also acknowledged cyclical factors at play, such as a recovery from recession.