Australia’s Migration Policy Debate Intensifies

The federal government has announced a reduction in the net overseas migration (Nom) target to 245,000 for the current financial year, with a further cut to 225,000 for 2027-28. The proposal follows One Nation’s pledge to slash temporary migrant numbers by more than 750,000 over three years, aiming for a ceiling of 130,000 annually and focusing on international students and family members of skilled migrants. The debate has unfolded amid anti-immigration rallies that featured far-right figures such as Pauline Hanson and Senator Malcolm Roberts, prompting condemnation from Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and the Labor government.

The Guardian

Minister Burke addressed the National Press Club, framing the issue as “the work of managing the migration program: who arrives, who stays, who leaves.” Labor later warned that foreign nationals without valid visas could face enforcement actions, including measures affecting backpackers and international students whose stays cannot be extended indefinitely.

The Guardian

Migrants and scholars argue that the focus on numerical targets dehumanises individuals. Associate professor Laurie Berg of the University of Technology Sydney warned that reducing migrants to a single figure fuels anti-migrant sentiment and scapegoating. Ogy Simic, head of advocacy at the Asylum Seeker Research Centre, described the discourse as dominated by far-right voices and reported rising incidents of public harassment and online racism. University of Sydney professor Ghassan Hage cautioned that open-forum debates often become “racist festivals,” marginalising the very communities they discuss. Individual stories echo these concerns: 19-year-old Shamsullah Sadey, who arrived from Afghanistan in 2024, says the debate makes him feel “unwelcome” for the first time, while 27-year-old Kobra Sayyadi feels valued only for her economic contribution.

The Guardian

• “The dehumanising impact of reducing migrants to numbers inflames anti-migrant sentiment,” — Laurie Berg, sydney associate professor

The Guardian

• “The work of managing the migration program: who arrives, who stays, who leaves” — Kobra Sayyadi

The Guardian

• “People are becoming more conscious of the way their accents are heard, whether their name or surname immediately identifies them as coming from somewhere else, whether they’re speaking in another language in public and that’s something I’ve experienced myself,” — Khalid

The Guardian

• “The government supports immigration but is opposed to anyone rorting the immigration system.” — Tony Burke

The Guardian