Coalition Proposes Historic Cuts to Australia’s Migration System

In a dramatic policy shift aimed at countering the rising influence of One Nation, Angus Taylor has unveiled sweeping cuts to Australia’s migration system. If elected, the coalition plans to reduce net overseas migration from nearly 300,000 people annually to about 100,000 in the first year, eventually settling at 160,000 per year after four years. This target is still higher than One Nation’s proposed 130,000 but represents the biggest cut in Australia’s history, according to Taylor.

The policy includes significant changes, such as requiring most visa applications to be made offshore to curb so-called “visa hopping” and virtually eliminating bridging visas. The coalition aims to cut the stock of temporary visa holders by about 650,000 over four years, excluding New Zealanders. Taylor criticized Labor’s approach, stating, “Australia should be a home, not a hotel.”

International students would bear the brunt of these cuts, with the abolition of temporary graduate visas for most fields, except health, education, PhDs, and regional universities. Student visas would be cut by 72,600 by 2031/32, achieved by limiting their ability to bring family members. Migration policy expert Abul Rizvi criticized the move, calling it “quite silly” due to the reliance on students as a pipeline for skilled migrants.

Opposition immigration spokesman Jonathon Duniam expressed confidence that the university sector could manage the reduction in foreign student fees, despite concerns about the economic impact. The plan is estimated to boost the federal budget by about $260 million. However, Business Council chief executive Bran Black warned against arbitrary migration figures that could hurt the economy and worsen skills shortages.