Canberra, October 6, 2026 – The Europe Today: Australia’s opposition Liberal-National Coalition has unveiled a sweeping immigration policy that it says would deliver the largest reduction in immigration in the country’s history if it wins government.
Under the plan announced by Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, net overseas migration would be reduced to 100,000 annually for the first two years of a Coalition government, before rising to 130,000 in the third year and 160,000 in the fourth.
The Coalition said the policy would reduce the number of temporary visa holders by about 650,000 over four years, with measures targeting temporary graduate visas, international student pathways, bridging visas and other categories.
The proposal would cap international student commencements at 240,000 and scrap most temporary graduate visas, while retaining limited post-study pathways for PhD, health and education graduates and students at regional universities.
The humanitarian intake would also be reduced by half to 10,000 places annually. The Coalition further proposes requiring most second and subsequent temporary visa applications to be lodged offshore, alongside tighter measures concerning protection visa applications and visa overstayers.
At the same time, the opposition plans to increase skilled migration in areas it identifies as facing labour shortages. The proposal includes around 60,000 additional temporary skilled visa holders and 15,000 Skilled Project Visas annually for major projects, with greater emphasis on construction and regional employment.
Taylor said the policy was aimed at reducing pressure on housing and public services while ensuring that Australia attracts workers with skills needed by the economy.
Australia’s net overseas migration stood at about 292,100 in the year to March, according to recently released figures. The governing Labor Party has set lower migration targets of 245,000 for the current financial year and 225,000 for 2027-28.
The Coalition’s announcement comes amid intensified political debate over migration, housing affordability and population growth, with the opposition also facing pressure from the One Nation party, which has advocated even deeper immigration reductions.
The Coalition said its migration plan forms part of a broader policy agenda focused on increasing housing availability, easing pressure on essential services and prioritising skilled migrants according to Australia’s economic needs.
