Australia immigration: Coalition, Labor and One Nation migration policies explained

Australia’s immigration system would undergo a major shake-up under a Coalition government, with Opposition Leader Angus Taylor unveiling plans to dramatically reduce migration and overhaul several visa categories.

The Coalition wants to cut net overseas migration to 100,000 people a year for its first two years in office, before increasing it to 130,000 in year three and 160,000 in year four.

That compares with net overseas migration of 292,100 in the year to March, while Labor is targeting 245,000 this financial year and 225,000 by mid-2028.

But the headline migration figure is only part of the plan.

Here’s what you need to know.

What exactly has the Coalition announced?

The Coalition says it would reduce the number of temporary visa holders in Australia by about 650,000 over four years, while changing the mix of people allowed to enter the country.

The biggest changes include:

• Net overseas migration: Cut to 100,000 a year for the first two years, rising to 130,000 in year three and 160,000 in year four.
• International students: New international student commencements would be capped at 240,000 a year, while restrictions would be placed on students bringing family members to Australia.
• Graduate visas: Temporary graduate visas, which allow international students to remain in Australia to work after completing their studies, would largely be abolished. Limited pathways would remain for some PhD, health and education graduates and students at regional universities.
• Bridging visas: People making a second or subsequent temporary visa application would generally have to leave Australia and apply from overseas. The Coalition says this would dramatically reduce the number of people on bridging visas and curb “visa hopping”.
• Humanitarian visas: Australia’s humanitarian intake would be halved to 10,000 places a year.
• Skilled workers: While overall migration would fall, the Coalition would increase skilled migration in priority areas, including construction. It proposes about 60,000 additional temporary skilled visa holders and 15,000 new skilled project visas each year.
• Working holiday makers: The Coalition would scrap Labor’s caps on second and third-year working holiday maker visa extensions, but increase fees for those who do not complete required regional work.
• Family reunion visas: These would remain unchanged.

What does net overseas migration actually mean?

Net overseas migration, or NOM, is not the same thing as the number of permanent migrants Australia accepts each year.

It measures the difference between people arriving in Australia and people leaving Australia who meet the ABS definition of a migrant, generally by spending at least 12 months in or out of Australia over a 16-month period.

That means international students, temporary workers and some Australians moving overseas can all affect the figure.

The Coalition plans to keep the permanent skilled migration program capped at 185,000 places a year, while driving down overall net migration largely through reductions in temporary migration.

Why is the Coalition doing it?

Mr Taylor argues rapid population growth has put additional pressure on housing, roads, schools and other infrastructure following the post-pandemic surge in migration.

Net overseas migration reached a record high after Australia’s borders reopened but has since been falling.

The Coalition also wants future migration levels to be linked to housing supply, with migration eventually capped according to the number of new homes being completed.

Critics, including business groups, have warned such deep cuts could hurt economic growth and worsen worker shortages.

What is Labor’s policy?

Labor has also moved to reduce migration, but its targets remain substantially higher than those proposed by the Coalition.

• Net overseas migration: The Government is targeting net overseas migration of 245,000 in 2026-27, falling to 225,000 the following year.
• Students and graduates: Labor has tightened rules allowing international students and temporary graduate visa holders to bring family members to Australia, with exemptions including PhD students and people from Pacific nations.
• Visa overstayers: The Government has announced a crackdown on people who remain in Australia after their visas expire, including increased use of immigration detention.
• Working holiday makers: Second-year working holiday visas will be capped at 45,000, down from about 57,000, while third-year places will be limited to 5000, down from about 31,000.
• Skilled migration: Visa processing will prioritise workers needed in sectors including construction, agriculture, fisheries, mining and teaching.

What is One Nation’s policy?

One Nation has proposed deeper cuts, with the party seeking net-negative migration during its first three years in government.

• Temporary migration: One Nation wants to reduce the number of temporary visa holders in Australia by more than 750,000 over three years.
• Net overseas migration: After the initial three-year reduction, the party would impose a ceiling of 130,000 a year.
• International students: One Nation would cut student visa grants from more than 290,000 to 115,000 a year.
• Family visas: One Nation would eliminate secondary visas for family members of international students and temporary skilled workers, with an exception for students on its proposed “high-value” postgraduate visa.

Is this happening now?

No. The announcement is Coalition policy ahead of the next Federal election, which will be held in 2028.

The changes would only be implemented if the Coalition wins government, and some details could change before then. The Coalition has also said full costings will be released closer to the election.