The Liberal‑National Coalition is set to announce a new immigration plan on Tuesday that will slash overseas migration numbers, the party says, in an effort to curb the growing popularity of the right‑wing One Nation party.
Opposition leader Angus Taylor is expected to unveil the policy after a special party‑room meeting of Liberal and National MPs convened this morning. Sources close to the coalition indicate that the new target will be lower than the figure favoured by the Labor government, but still above One Nation’s pledge to limit net arrivals to 130,000.
The coalition’s proposal, according to party officials, will preserve places for working‑holiday makers while giving priority to skilled migrants. Details of the exact numbers have not been released, but the emphasis on “skills‑based” migration reflects a long‑standing Liberal stance on balancing economic needs with population growth.
One Nation, which has been gaining traction in recent polls, has campaigned on a hard‑line immigration platform, arguing that Australia should dramatically reduce the number of people arriving from overseas. The coalition’s move is being framed as a moderate alternative that still addresses public concerns without adopting One Nation’s more extreme limits.
If approved, the new policy will become the government’s official migration target for the coming year, positioning the coalition between Labor’s higher intake and One Nation’s 130,000‑arrival ceiling, and signalling its intent to win back voters wary of high immigration levels.
<small>Source: The Guardian — read the original story there.</small>
