The Coalition has confirmed it will not target working holiday visas as part of its plan to reduce migration levels, despite committing to a broader reduction in immigration numbers, senior Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie stated.
Amid ongoing pressure to clarify which immigration streams would be affected by the proposed cuts, McKenzie assured that working holiday visas would remain unaffected. “We need those backpackers out in our regions. Tourism, hospitality, and agriculture rely on them, so we’re not cutting that,” she explained during an appearance on ABC TV’s Insiders program on Sunday.
The Coalition’s immigration policy, which aims to reduce net overseas migration by 100,000, has stirred debate about its potential impact on various visa categories. Peter Dutton, the opposition leader, has linked the rise in immigration over the past two years to increasing house prices, and has vowed to lower permanent migration from 185,000 in 2024-25 to 140,000 by 2025-26. The permanent migration cap would then rise gradually to 150,000 and 160,000 in the following years.
However, the Coalition’s plan has generated confusion, especially after Shadow Immigration Minister Dan Tehan revealed on Friday that the government would no longer aim for a two-thirds share of skilled migration, with one-third allocated to family visas. Tehan clarified that the reduction in permanent visas would focus primarily on skilled migration, not family visas.
Dutton’s remarks have underscored his stance on reducing net overseas migration levels, asserting that a reduction to approximately 160,000 would be implemented “straight away” if the Coalition assumes power. He has blamed the current migration levels for exacerbating the housing crisis, accusing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of contributing to the problem.
While Dutton and McKenzie have expressed their commitment to reducing permanent migration, questions remain about which specific visa categories will be targeted. Former immigration department deputy secretary Abul Rizvi suggested that the “skilled independent” visa category, which accounts for fewer than 17,000 people annually, could be the first to face cuts. However, with nursing being one of the top occupations in this category, any reduction would likely provoke resistance.
The Coalition’s proposal also suggests cuts to the humanitarian intake, which would be reduced from 20,000 to 13,750, and a decrease in foreign student commencements by 30,000 compared to Labor’s current target. Tehan indicated that the government would also review temporary graduate visas.
The details of these proposed changes will likely fuel further debate, especially as the Coalition seeks to balance its immigration reduction goals with the needs of various industries reliant on skilled migrants and temporary workers.
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