Conservative opposition unveils plans for ‘biggest immigration cut’ in Australia’s history

Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today.

Australia ’s conservative Liberal-National Coalition has unveiled plans to drastically lower temporary and humanitarian visa numbers while prioritising skilled workers, in a move described by the party as the largest reduction in immigration in the country's history.

Under the proposed policy, temporary visas would be reduced by 650,000 across a four-year period, bringing annual net overseas migration down to 100,000 for two years, roughly a third of its current rate.

The sweeping proposal comes amid growing anti-immigration sentiment across Australia, driven by high living costs and housing shortages. The Coalition has faced intensified pressure from the far-right, anti-immigration One Nation party, which recently outpolled it in surveys after pledging to decrease temporary migration by 750,000 over three years.

"What we’re proposing today is the biggest cut to immigration in the history of this country. It will be putting Australia first and it will be putting our national interest first,” opposition leader Angus Taylor told a press conference on Tuesday.

"The net overseas migration numbers will be 100,000 year one, 100,000 year two, going to 160,000 in year four. That’ll take pressure off roads, off schools, off infrastructure, off houses, and that will ensure that our country has the breathing space it needs."

Under the Coalition's framework, humanitarian visa allocations would be halved to 10,000.

International student enrolments would be limited to 240,000, alongside the elimination of Australia's temporary graduate visa programme allowing post-graduation study and work. However, the Coalition promised to expand temporary skilled visas by 100,000 and also clear a backlog of construction worker applications.

"We have also seen under Labor a shift away from skilled migration to mass migration. We’ll reverse that shift," Mr Taylor added.

The plan represents a sharper reduction than the target set by the centre-left Labor government last month, which sought to bring annual net migration down to 225,000 by 2028.

Migration surged after Australia reopened its borders in February 2022 following over two years of Covid closures, largely driven by international students, backpackers and temporary workers. Intake has nevertheless dropped over the past two years, with net overseas migration standing at 306,000 in the year to 30 June 2025.

Australia's next general election is not due until 2028.

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies