Angus Taylor defends Coalition plan to cut migration numbers

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has defended the Coalition’s new migration platform, which proposes significant cuts to net overseas migration. The plan aims to reduce temporary migrant numbers by approximately 650,000 and lower the net migration rate to 100,000 per year in the two years following the next election. Taylor stated the policy focuses on improving the standards and skills of arrivals to benefit the budget and the economy.

The proposal has faced criticism from both the Labor Party and the Business Council of Australia. The Business Council described the plan as a “big bucket of cold water over businesses across Australia,” warning it could shrink the economy and reduce service levels in sectors such as construction, retail, education, and the care economy.

This policy follows announcements from other political entities, including Labor’s target of 225,000 migrants per year and One Nation’s proposal to implement negative net migration for three years before settling at 130,000.