Australia's Net Overseas Migration Falls 45% Since 2023 Peak
Net overseas migration in Australia has dropped from a record 555,800 in September 2023 to 301,000, a decline of about 45 per cent, according to the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA). The think‑tank forecasts the figure will fall further to around 225,000 by the 2027/28 financial year.
The sharp decline comes as the country grapples with a housing crisis and strained infrastructure. The coalition government has pledged to cap net overseas migration at the number of homes built in the previous year, while One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has called for a “monocultural” society, arguing that high immigration erodes national identity.
CEDA says migrants remain vital to the economy: roughly one in three workers in health‑care, logistics, professional services and manufacturing were born overseas. The aged‑care sector alone will require an additional 400,000 workers by 2050, a gap the domestic labour market cannot fill. Poor recognition of overseas qualifications is estimated to cost the economy about $4 billion in foregone wages each year. Although arrivals are falling, many migrants are staying longer, including international students and temporary skilled workers, helping to offset the reduced intake.
Entities
Australia · Committee for Economic Development of Australia · Melinda Cilento · Pauline Hanson
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The coalition government pledged to limit net overseas migration to the number of homes built in the previous year. www.perthnow.com.au · theqldr.com.au
- [● 2 SOURCES] Net overseas migration is projected to fall to 225,000 by the 2027/28 financial year. www.perthnow.com.au · theqldr.com.au
- [● 2 SOURCES] About one in three workers in health care, logistics, professional services and manufacturing were born overseas. www.perthnow.com.au · theqldr.com.au
- [● 2 SOURCES] The aged‑care sector will need 400,000 extra workers by 2050, which cannot be filled by the domestic workforce alone. www.perthnow.com.au · theqldr.com.au
- [● 2 SOURCES] Poor recognition of overseas qualifications costs the Australian economy about $4 billion a year in foregone wages. www.perthnow.com.au · theqldr.com.au
- [● 2 SOURCES] One Nation leader Pauline Hanson called for a “monocultural” society, claiming high immigration erodes national identity. www.perthnow.com.au · theqldr.com.au
- [● 2 SOURCES] Net overseas migration fell from 555,800 in September 2023 to 301,000, a 45% decline. www.perthnow.com.au · theqldr.com.au
- [● 2 SOURCES] Many migrants are staying longer in Australia, including international students and temporary skilled workers, offsetting lower arrivals. www.perthnow.com.au · theqldr.com.au