Australian Treasury Minister Angus Taylor unveiled a hard‑line immigration plan on Tuesday that would cut net overseas migration (Nom) by an additional 60,000 people compared with the reduction pledged by Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton ahead of the 2025 federal election. The proposal pushes the target below the 130,000‑person floor championed by One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, marking a further rightward shift in the country’s immigration debate.
Peter Dutton’s pre‑election promise called for Nom to be reduced to about 160,000 people a year. Taylor’s plan, announced just days later, adds a further cut of 60,000, which would bring the annual figure down to roughly 100,000 – well under Hanson’s stated bottom line.
The policy move has been described as a political win for One Nation, whose anti‑immigration stance has gained traction in recent years. By adopting a target lower than Hanson’s, the coalition government appears to be aligning more closely with the party’s hard‑line position.
Australia’s immigration system has traditionally relied on net overseas migration to sustain population growth and address labour shortages. The proposed reductions represent a significant departure from recent policy trends, signalling a broader shift toward tighter controls.
Analysts note that the new plan could reshape the electoral landscape ahead of the 2025 election, as parties on the right vie for the support of voters who favour stricter immigration limits.
<small>Source: The Guardian — read the original story there.</small>
