Opposition Leader Angus Taylor used ABC’s Insiders program on 11 October to argue that the Coalition’s promise to cut net-overseas-migration to 100,000 for its first two years in office can be achieved without blowing a hole in the Budget. The strategy hinges on reducing 650,000 temporary visas—particularly bridging and graduate streams—while adding 100,000 higher-paid skilled migrants on permanent visas. Taylor said the Parliamentary Budget Office could not yet model the full impact because of legislative constraints, but insisted “average incomes and productivity of new arrivals will rise, offsetting lower numbers.” Business groups and aged-care providers remain unconvinced. They warn that sectors already dependent on temporary visa holders face severe labour shortages, pointing out that 30 % of personal-care workers are on temporary visas. Immigration Minister Tony Burke countered that removing hundreds of thousands of bridging visa holders would require “billions of dollars” in detention facilities, compliance officers and housing. Analysts at Deloitte Access Economics estimate that every 10,000 reduction in temporary visas costs the Commonwealth roughly AU$260 million in GST and income-tax receipts. The debate comes as the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported NOM of 292,100 in the year to March—well above Labor’s goal of 245,000 for 2026-27. With housing affordability dominating the political agenda, both major parties are recalibrating their migration narratives ahead of next year’s federal election. For employers, the uncertainty over visa settings complicates workforce planning and global talent strategies. Multinationals with Australian operations should scenario-plan for tighter caps on temporary transfers and build pathways for higher-salary ENS or Global Talent visas if the Coalition proposal gains traction.
Source: ABC News
