# Coalition vows biggest migration cut in Australian history > Angus Taylor's opposition plan would slash temporary visas by 650,000 over four years, cutting net migration to 100,000 annually. - Title: Coalition vows biggest migration cut in Australian history - Summary: Angus Taylor's opposition plan would slash temporary visas by 650,000 over four years, cutting net migration to 100,000 annually. Opposition leader Angus… - Keywords: angus taylor, coalition, immigration policy, net overseas migration, temporary visas, one nation, labor, australian politics, pauline hanson, news, politics, vows - Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/06/coalition-immigration-policy-angus-taylor-one-nation-labor-ntwnfb - Published: 2026-10-06T03:17:57+00:00 - Read time: 3 min - Topics: angus taylor, coalition, immigration policy, net overseas migration, temporary visas, one nation, labor, australian politics, pauline hanson, news, politics ## Coalition's sweeping migration plan Opposition leader Angus Taylor announced the Coalition would cut net overseas migration to one hundred thousand for two years, calling it the biggest cut to immigration in Australia's history. > the biggest cut to immigration in the history of this country ## Temporary visas slashed by 650,000 The plan would reduce temporary visa holders by about six hundred fifty thousand people over four years, more than a third of current levels. Opposition figures put current temporary visa holders at one million seven hundred sixty-six thousand two hundred. ## Phased migration targets over four years Net overseas migration would reach one hundred thirty thousand in the third year and one hundred sixty thousand in the fourth year. The Coalition would maintain the permanent skilled migration program at one hundred eighty-five thousand places annually. ## Humanitarian and protection visas cut Humanitarian visa places would be slashed to ten thousand, a fifty percent cut from Labor's cap of twenty thousand. Bridging and temporary protection visas would drop to twenty thousand from more than four hundred thousand this year. ## International student numbers targeted International student commencements would be cut to two hundred forty thousand, allowing overseas enrolment in higher education to fall below twenty-five percent. Temporary graduate visas would be abolished and most students' family members blocked from coming to Australia. ## Skilled workers prioritised by profession Skilled worker places would be prioritised by profession, income, age, English language skills and full-time employment. Construction would be prioritised. A strike force would clear the backlog of skilled construction applications to address workforce shortages. ## Nationals leader frames policy as nation first Nationals leader Matt Canavan called the plan an Australia first migration plan. He said Australia is not a booking.com site and Australians deserve a living wage, not salaries undermined by cheap foreign labour. > we're not a booking.com site ## Labor warns of economic catastrophe Labor frontbencher Matt Keogh said the migration cuts would be absolutely catastrophic for the economy and services Australia relies on. Ed Husic accused the Coalition of playing politics with immigrants amid global skilled labour competition. > absolutely catastrophic for the economy ## Business sector split on policy The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's chief executive Andrew McKellar warned the scale of cuts will hurt the economy. Master Builders Australia welcomed the focus on skilled migration but remained undecided on other aspects of the policy. > scale of these cuts will hurt our economy ## One Nation claims credit for policy shift Pauline Hanson accused the opposition of arriving late to the grand final waving a photocopy of One Nation's immigration policy. She said both major parties had been dragged kicking and screaming to her immigration policy position. > dragged kicking and screaming to her immigration policy position ## Taylor faces pressure from One Nation surge Taylor is under pressure to stop and reverse an exodus of support to One Nation, as the party surpasses the Coalition and Labor in some opinion polls and Pauline Hanson increasingly sets the terms for political debate on immigration. ## Key takeaway Opposition leader Angus Taylor announced plans to cut net overseas migration to 100,000 for two years, reducing temporary visa holders by about 650,000 over four years, as the Coalition seeks to counter One Nation and Labor on immigration.