Coalition MPs have acknowledged that the party’s new immigration policy has not yet been fully costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO), despite claims that it is “budget neutral.” The admission comes as the government pushes a plan to reduce net overseas migration to 100,000 for the next two years.
Parliamentary Budget Office officials have not yet conducted a comprehensive analysis of the policy’s fiscal impact. This is in contrast to statements from Liberal MPs who say the government has worked closely with the independent watchdog on the proposal.
“We have worked closely with the PBO on this plan,” said Deputy Liberal Leader Jane Hume. She echoed former Treasurer Angus Taylor’s defence that the immigration measures would be “budget neutral.”
However, Liberal sources indicate that the PBO has not yet completed a full cost assessment, raising questions about the accuracy of the budget‑neutral claim. The PBO is tasked with providing independent, non‑partisan budgetary analysis for all major government initiatives.
The policy’s target of 100,000 net overseas arrivals over two years is part of a broader effort to tighten immigration controls. While the government insists it has consulted the PBO throughout the drafting process, the lack of a complete cost report suggests further scrutiny is needed before the plan can be fully implemented.
<small>Source: The Guardian — read the original story there.</small>
