The Australian Bureau of Statistics population data release today reaffirms that Labor has lost control of its migration program, with the Government again set to miss its net overseas migration forecast.
Net overseas migration is now on track to exceed 300,000 this year – significantly higher than the Government’s forecast of 260,000 this financial year and 225,000 next year. This high level of immigration has only been compounded by Labor’s consistent failure to meet its own migration forecasts:
- In 2022-23, net overseas migration was 538,000, more than double Labor’s forecast of 235,000.
- In 2023-24, net overseas migration was 429,000, while Labor’s forecast had been 235,000.
- In 2024-25, net overseas migration was 305,000, a number almost 90,000 more than the average annual rate prior to the pandemic.
Shadow Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration Jonno Duniam said that, at a time when Australians are already facing a housing crisis and strained infrastructure, the Government’s inability to manage the migration programme is making life harder for Australians.
“Labor promised to bring migration numbers down, but instead we are seeing them blow out towards levels that we cannot cope with,” Senator Duniam said.
“Yet again, annualised net overseas migration is forecast to be over 300,000 people. This simply means that it will be even harder for Australians to get by – to get to work, to find a spot at school or childcare for their child, to buy a home.”
“Australians are already dealing with a housing crisis, soaring rents and stretched services. Labor is making it worse by failing to manage migration in any sort of responsible way.”
“This Government has never met a migration target it has set. Australians will continue to suffer from this reckless approach.”
“The Coalition has been calling for a well-managed and planned migration program. Our standards are too low, numbers are too high, and Labor’s incompetence is putting Australians at risk.”
“Australians have lost confidence in the Labor Government’s ability to deal with our migration program. Only the Coalition can be trusted to bring back credibility to our migration program.”
ENDS