Australia Coalition proposes significant migration and visa reductions

The Australian Coalition has proposed the ‘Australia-First Migration Plan’, which aims to significantly reduce net overseas migration. Under the proposal, net migration would be cut to 100,000 per year for the first two years, eventually rising to approximately 160,000 by the fourth year. The plan also seeks to reduce the number of temporary visa holders by roughly 650,000 over a four-year period, while maintaining the permanent migration program cap at 185,000 places annually.

Parkes MP Jamie Chaffey supports the plan, arguing that current migration levels are unsustainable and place undue pressure on housing, roads, hospitals, and schools. He stated that the plan would focus on higher-skilled migrants to meet specific workforce needs.

However, Multicultural Affairs Minister Anne Aly has criticized the proposal as a ‘huge drastic cut’. She warned that reducing temporary migration could threaten the economic viability of regional businesses that rely on migrant labor. Aly noted that for many small businesses in areas like regional Queensland and Darwin, migration is essential for community stability and livelihoods.