Media Releases

One Nation’s immigration proposal would cut 750,000 temporary visa holders over three years and reduce net overseas migration to 130,000 a year. That is a major and ill-considered intervention in Australia’s economy.

I call on One Nation to explain what happens to the businesses, industries and essential services that rely on these workers under its destructive and divisive migration plan.

Australia’s migration system must be robust and sustainable. But we cannot forget that migrants and permanent residents are workers, taxpayers and valued members of our community.

Every 1,000 migrants generates around $124 million in economic output each year. Migrants are vital to our ability to build the homes and infrastructure Australia needs.

They make up around 35% of the aged care workforce and 37% of the disability workforce, while around 30% of Australia’s doctors were trained overseas.

The warnings today from economists and industry could not be clearer. Cutting hundreds of thousands of workers while Australia is already facing critical skills shortages risks driving up costs and damaging economic growth.