Australia's One Nation proposes cutting migration by 750,000
Australian party One Nation has unveiled a plan to cut temporary migrant numbers by more than 750,000 over three years, raising concerns about impacts on healthcare, aged care and construction. Labor and the Liberals have both criticized the plan as unsubstantiated and economically risky.
Australia's One Nation party announced a new migration policy on Monday that would cut the number of temporary migrants in the country by more than 750,000 over three years, primarily targeting international students and family members of skilled migrants.
Party leader Pauline Hanson said the plan would "reset" Australia's immigration system and ease pressure on housing and public services. Under the proposal, temporary visa numbers would return to 2017 levels, resulting in a net-negative migration rate for the first three years — bringing the overall net overseas migration figure down to 130,000.
Hanson said Australians are struggling, with families competing for rental housing, patients stuck in ambulances due to a lack of hospital beds, and young people locked out of home ownership.
Criticism from major parties
Health minister Mark Butler, from the governing Labor party, warned the proposed cuts would "devastate" key industries including construction, healthcare, aged care and disability services. Liberal deputy leader Jane Hume questioned whether the figure had any economic modelling behind it, warning that negative migration could shock the economy and trigger a recession.
The plan has also caused division within One Nation itself — MP David Farley previously raised concerns that large migration cuts could leave his electorate without the workers needed for agriculture and elderly care.
Under the plan, the Pacific labour mobility scheme for agriculture would remain in place, but temporary skilled migrants would lose the ability to apply for visas for their family members. Illegal migrants would be given three months to leave voluntarily, or face a lifetime ban from re-entering the country.
The announcement comes as both Labor and the opposition Coalition consider new migration restrictions ahead of the next federal election, with Hanson hoping her plan will resonate ahead of the Victorian state election in November.
