Australia’s net overseas migration rate has reached a record high of 510,000 people in the year to March 2024, and the federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton had promised to bring it down to 160,000 if elected.
But, it seems like that promise has been quietly shelved.
A Promise Forgotten?
In May, Mr. Dutton made a bold statement: “We will bring back the net overseas migration to a figure of about 160,000.” The Coalition had attacked the Albanese government for allowing migration rates to skyrocket, and this promise was seen as a key part of their election campaign. However, when asked about it on Sunday, Mr. Dutton repeatedly dodged the question and refused to recommit to the target.
The Sky News Interview: A Masterclass in Evasion
On Sky News Australia’s Sunday Agenda, Mr. Dutton was asked about his earlier promise. Instead of giving a clear answer, he spoke about the government’s migration program being taken advantage of and how young Australians are struggling to find rental accommodation or buy homes.
The Economy Will Decide, Apparently
When pressed further, Mr. Dutton admitted that the target of 160,000 would depend on the state of the economy when they take office. “We’ll have a look at the economic settings… to determine exactly how much damage Labor has done and what we need to do,” he said.
Reducing Permanent Migration, But Not Net Migration
The Opposition Leader did recommit to reducing Australia’s permanent migration rate from 185,000 to 140,000, but this figure doesn’t reflect net migration rates. The permanent migration program mostly grants visas to people already in Australia, which doesn’t address the issue of net migration.
Other Commitments, But No Clear Plan
Mr. Dutton also reiterated the Coalition’s promise to cut the humanitarian and refugee intake from 20,000 to 13,750 per year and to boost housing construction with a $5 billion project. However, these commitments don’t provide a clear plan for reducing net migration rates.
What Happened to the Promise of 160,000?
It’s unclear why Mr. Dutton has backtracked on his promise to reduce net migration rates. The government forecasts indicate that the rate will likely drop to 260,000 for the 2024-25 financial year, which means the Coalition had promised to cut net migration by about 100,000. But now, it seems like that promise has been quietly forgotten.
The Takeaway
The federal Opposition Leader’s backtracking on his promise to reduce net migration rates raises more questions than answers. Will the Coalition revisit their policy and provide a clear plan for managing migration rates? Only time will tell. One thing is certain, though: the Australian people deserve transparency and clarity on issues that affect their daily lives.