One Nation has proposed reducing Australia’s net overseas migration to zero for three years, followed by a permanent annual limit of 130,000 people.
The party says the plan would cut migration by more than 750,000 people and ease pressure on housing, rents and essential services.
Labor’s current net overseas migration target is 245,000 for 2026–27 and 225,000 for 2027–28.
The proposal would then be reviewed, with migration settling at around 130,000 people a year.
“Over the three years, net overseas migration will be net negative,” the policy document states.
“Following this, One Nation’s net overseas migration ceiling of 130,000 per year would remain in place.”
One Nation also wants to reduce the temporary migrant population to around 2017 levels and the international student population to 2015 levels.
The plan includes tighter eligibility criteria for temporary student and graduate visas, restrictions on visa switching within Australia and limits on the ability of temporary migrants to sponsor family members and dependants.
Visitors would also be prevented from applying for another visa from within Australia, apart from a specified exception for family-sponsored applications.
Bridging visas would remain available for legitimate applications that are permitted to be made in Australia.
One Nation estimates the measures would reduce the bridging visa population from approximately 413,000 to 300,000 by the third year.
The party says universities would still be able to enrol more than 100,000 international students a year, while temporary skilled migration would remain available and be driven by employer demand.
“One Nation will maintain the existing seasonal worker programs, such as PALM and the working holiday maker program,” the policy document read.
“Employers will still be able to sponsor skilled migrants, but temporary skilled migration will no longer operate as a sham family migration pathway.”
The proposal also includes a crackdown on illegal migrant employment. One Nation says illegal migrants would be given three months to leave Australia, with those who remain unlawfully facing immigration enforcement and a lifetime ban from re-entering Australia.
Hanson said the proposal would ease pressure on housing and services while allowing the economy to continue growing.
“Vested interests and elite economists will shriek at the prospect of these cuts,’’ Hanson said.
“But Canada has shown you can cut migrant numbers, take pressure off rents, and still grow the economy.”
Net overseas migration measures the difference between the number of people arriving in Australia and those leaving who stay away for 12 months or more within a 16-month period. It does not refer simply to the number of people granted visas.
The proposal has faced criticism, including from within One Nation. New MP David Farley questioned whether the 130,000 figure excluded some forms of migration, including temporary workers, skilled workers and backpackers.
Opposition home affairs spokesman Jonno Duniam said 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,” Duniam said.
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