Australia’s Labor government has confirmed the number of foreigners given permanent residency will be maintained this year, just two days after more than 100,000 Aussies took to the streets to protest against mass immigration.
Immigration minister Tony Burke said on Tuesday that permanent migration – which includes skilled, family and special eligibility visa holders – would stay at 185,000 during the 2025-26 financial year, the same level and visa type-split as last year.
The total is 10,000 lower than in 2022-23, and 5,000 lower than in 2023-24, but is unlikely to affect net overseas migration since most permanent visas are granted to immigrants already living in Australia.
“The Albanese Labor Government will maintain the 2025-26 Permanent Migration Program at the same level and settings as the 2024-2025 Program, 185,000,” Mr Burke said in a statement.
“It follows consultation with the states and territories, which recommended maintaining the size and composition of the Program, with a focus on skilled migration.
“The Department of Home Affairs has been processing visas based on last year’s level, so there has been no disruption to the delivery of the Program.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had promised to reduce permanent migration ahead of the 2022 election, but made no promises to lower numbers before the May federal election, while then-Opposition leader Peter Dutton committed to bringing the level down to 140,000.
The Coalition under Sussan Ley and new immigration spokesman Paul Scarr have since abandoned that promise in an attempt to win over immigrant voters.
Former senior immigration official Abul Rizvi warned Labor was “kicking the problem down the road” as the commitment did not address a growing backlog of partner visa applications, which he estimated at close to 100,000 people, ABC News reported.
More than 1.5 million immigrants have arrived in Australia since the 2022 election, sparking growing public anger which culminated in massive anti-immigration March for Australia protests in every major city on Sunday.
Tens of thousands rallied in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart and Townsville, as well as in dozens of smaller cities and towns.
Net overseas migration statistics for the last financial year are yet to be released, but net permanent and long-term arrivals (a figure commonly used as a proxy for net overseas migration) are at record-high levels for the year so far.
Header image: Anthony Albanese panders to Indian immigrants by dressing up for a Hindu festival (Facebook).
