One Nation has unveiled a shock plan to “reset” Australia’s net overseas migration levels to zero by slashing the number of arrivals by more than 750,000 people.
The major plan would take Australia’s current net overseas migration figure, which has a target of 225,000 in coming years, down to zero in a temporary measure lasting three years.
It would then be reviewed and resettle at around 130,000 people a year.
Labor’s current NOM target is 245,000 for 2026-27 and 225,000 for 2027-28.
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The temporary measures mirror radical reforms adopted in Canada that slowed a post-pandemic immigration surge by slashing overseas students and other arrivals.
“Vested interests and elite economists will shriek at the prospect of these cuts,’’ Senator Hanson said.
“But Canada has shown you can cut migrant numbers, take pressure off rents, and still grow the economy.”
Plan to ‘restore living standards
Senator Hanson said the plan would restore living standards, ease pressure on housing and essential services, and bring population growth back to a sustainable rate.
“I know Australians are doing it tough. Families are competing with hundreds of people for rental accommodation,” she said.
“Patients are stuck in ambulances because there are not enough hospital beds. Young Australians are being locked out of home ownership while wages and infrastructure fail to keep up.
“Under Labor, the number of temporary visa holders has surged from 2 million in 2022 to roughly 3 million in 2026.”
What is Net Overseas Migration?
The net overseas migration figure is a poorly understood measure of the net gain or loss of population through immigration to and emigration from Australia.
It is based on an international traveller’s duration of stay being in or out of Australia for 12 months or more over a 16-month period (the 12/16 month rule).
It measures the difference between the number of incoming international travellers who stay in Australia for 12 months or more within 16 months and the number of outgoing international travellers.
‘Net negative’ migration reset
One Nation’s plan aims to return the temporary migrant population to around 2017 levels and the international student population to 2015 levels.
“Over the three years, net overseas migration will be net negative,” the One Nation policy document states.
“Following this, One Nation’s net overseas migration ceiling of 130,000 per year would remain in place.
“We will crack down on illegal migrant employment, cutting off illicit income and encouraging departures. Illegal migrants will be given three months to leave Australia.
“Those who depart will be allowed to apply for a visa in the future. Those who remain unlawfully after this period will face immigration enforcement and a lifetime ban from re-entering Australia.”
How the 750,000 reduction would work
One Nation’s reduction in the temporary migrant population of approximately 750,000 would be achieved through restricting visa numbers and tightening eligibility criteria for temporary student and student graduate visas
It aims to substantially restrict the ability of temporary students, graduates and skilled workers to sponsor family and dependants to Australia
Crackdown on Overseas Students
Under One Nation’s plan:
-Overseas students must leave after completing their studies unless eligible for the targeted graduate pathway.
-Graduate visa holders may move to an eligible employer-sponsored temporary skilled visa, but cannot obtain another graduate visa or switch back to a student visa from within Australia.
-Temporary skilled workers may renew or replace their work visa if eligible, but cannot switch onshore into student, graduate, visitor or other temporary categories.
-Visitors cannot apply for another visa from within Australia, apart from the specified exception for family-sponsored applications.
Bridging visas would remain available for legitimate applications that are permitted to be made in Australia.
Restricting onshore applications and visa switching aims to reduce the number of people entering and remaining in the bridging visa system. One Nation anticipates this will reduce the current bridging visa population from approximately 413,000 to 300,000 by year three.
One Nation said universities would still be able to enrol more than 100,000 international students per year.
“The temporary skilled migration program will remain available and be driven by employer demand,” the document states.
“One Nation will maintain the existing seasonal worker programs, such as PALM and the working holiday maker program.
“Employers will still be able to sponsor skilled migrants, but temporary skilled migration will no longer operate as a sham family migration pathway.”
Divisions within One Nation
One Nation has been criticised for its “incoherence” on migration policy after new MP David Farley suggested the party’s plan wasn’t that different to Labor’s policy.
He argued the 130,000 NOM target excluded other forms of migration, including temporary workers from the Pacific Islands, skilled workers, and backpackers.
The remarks sparked a rebuke from Senator Hanson.
“The cuts will come from fewer international students and dependants, a dramatic reduction in temporary graduate visas and their dependants, and a much more targeted skilled migration program focused on the skills Australia genuinely needs,” she said.
Opposition home affairs spokesman Jonno Duniam said that One Nation was struggling to “get its story straight” on migration.
“It is one thing to have a (NOM) number out there. It is another to go around and point at certain groups of visa classes and say we’ll reduce this,” Senator Duniam said.
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