Key facts
- Liberal senator Andrew Bragg proposed capping net overseas migration at 180,000 annually.
- Bragg linked this target to addressing Australia's housing shortfall.
- He suggested achieving the target by reducing international students, working holidaymakers, and unskilled workers.
- Several Liberal colleagues, including Angus Taylor and Tim Wilson, have not publicly backed Bragg's specific figure.
- Bragg expressed regret for not doing more to curb government spending during the Morrison administration.
Liberal senator Andrew Bragg has reiterated his proposal to reduce net overseas migration (Nom) to 180,000 per year, arguing it is necessary to address Australia's housing shortfall. Speaking at the National Press Club, Bragg suggested this target could be achieved by making modest reductions in international students, working holidaymakers, and some unskilled workers, while also emphasizing the need for annual reviews of migration settings to maintain integrity and public trust.
Bragg acknowledged that the opposition has not yet finalized its comprehensive migration policy, but he stressed the importance of moving the debate forward and engaging with the details of the housing-migration nexus. He pointed to past periods, such as 2009-10, when migration figures saw significant declines, as evidence that such reductions are manageable.
However, Bragg's specific target has not garnered widespread public support from his Liberal colleagues. Opposition leader Angus Taylor has indicated that the Coalition's migration target will be "well below 200,000" but has not committed to a precise figure, stating it will be revealed closer to the election campaign based on housing construction progress. Shadow treasurer Tim Wilson also distanced himself from Bragg's proposal, stating it should not be banked as finalized policy and that the focus is on long-term national growth.
Other members of the shadow cabinet expressed varying views. Shadow education minister Julian Leeser agreed that migration must be lowered, with international education playing a role in the balance. Conversely, Nationals leader Matt Canavan ruled out any cuts that would affect migrant workers in the agricultural sector or rural areas. Bragg also reflected on his time in the Morrison government, expressing regret for not doing more to stop what he described as "madness" related to government spending and budget management.