Compiled from Liberal Party of Australia, Reuters, ABC News. Sources checked . Claims are attributed; limits of the evidence and analysis are identified in the report.
Event / release date: . Read the source list.
A proposed reset of the migration program
Australia’s Liberal–National opposition announced a migration plan on October 6 that would set annual net overseas migration at 100,000 for the first two years of a future Coalition government. Reuters and ABC independently reported the central targets.
The party’s published policy then sets a target of 130,000 in the third year and 160,000 in the fourth. It proposes reducing the core temporary-visa-holder population by about 650,000 over four years. This is a projected reduction in the number of people holding those visas, not an announcement that 650,000 visas have already been cancelled.
Students, humanitarian places and skilled workers
The proposal would cap international student commencements at 240,000 and halve the annual humanitarian intake to 10,000. The opposition says it would retain flexibility to respond to emerging humanitarian needs.
Its policy keeps the permanent skilled migration program capped at 185,000 places a year while changing priorities within the system. It also proposes new routes for specialist and project workers, and post-study transitional visas for certain graduates, including those in health, education and regional universities.
Implementation and economic effects remain open
The plan would depend on the Coalition forming government; it does not itself alter existing visa rules. Prospective applicants should distinguish this political announcement from measures already enacted by the Australian government.
The opposition argues that lower migration would ease housing and public-service pressures and says its plan would be budget-neutral. Those are its stated objectives and forecasts. ABC reported that the wider economic impact is not yet known. The consequences for housing, employers, universities and migrants would depend on implementation as well as conditions in the economy.
Sources
Liberal Party of Australia — Liberals and Nationals’ Australia-first migration plan: Cut the numbers, raise the standards
Primary policy announcement; opposition party claims · 2026-10-06
Reuters — Australian opposition party vows biggest cut to immigration in country’s history
Independent reporting · 2026-10-06
ABC News — Coalition unveils policy to cut net overseas migration to 100,000 a year
Independent reporting; NewsRadio · 2026-10-06