Australian party policies on migration compared

The short answer

Australian party policies on migration compared

The five parties' migration positions range from a current skilled migration framework (Labor), a values-based plan announced in April 2026 (Nationals), a statement that immigration should put Australians first without specifying targets (One Nation), to parties not stating current positions (Liberals, Greens). No party has published a full numerical migration target in its current 2026 source pages that OzPolitics has reviewed. This comparison records stated positions only; party claims about migration impacts on housing, wages and services are attributions and have not been independently verified.

This guide uses public electoral and parliamentary records. A party or candidate statement establishes what that actor says; it does not independently establish that the statement is true.

The useful question is not only “what is the rule?” but also “who administers it, which document controls it, and when might it change?” That distinction prevents an accurate general explanation from becoming wrong advice in a particular election, chamber or policy setting.

Evidence review

What is proposed

The Australian Labor Party states it proposes a migration program focused on skilled permanent migration that is 'well-managed and fair.' The party states net overseas migration has moderated from post-pandemic highs and that the government's migration strategy aims to return migration to sustainable levels. Labor says it is investing in domestic skills, including fee-free TAFE, to reduce reliance on skilled migration. The party does not specify a numerical permanent intake target in its reviewed policy pages.

The Liberal Party does not state a current 2026 migration policy in its reviewed sources. The Our Plan page from 27 August 2024 discusses population pressures in the context of housing affordability but does not state specific migration proposals. The Sydney Institute Address of 9 July 2026 references migration in the context of infrastructure and housing but does not set out a migration policy framework. The National Party's Australian Values Migration Plan of 14 April 2026 states a Coalition government would implement a 'comprehensive Australian Values Migration Plan' that would put 'Australian values at the heart of immigration policy' and 'reduce the numbers of Labor's out of control migration.'

The Greens do not state a migration policy in their reviewed source pages. The party's Policy Principles and Aims page does not address migration intake, skilled migration, or refugee policy. One Nation states on its immigration page that 'Australia's immigration system is broken,' that population growth is overwhelming infrastructure and services, and that the party's policy 'puts Australians first.' The party states it is 'time to take back control of our borders' but does not specify a numerical target or detailed visa settings.

The Nationals' 14 April 2026 values migration plan is the most current party migration policy among the five reviewed sources. Angus Taylor, Opposition Leader, is cited as stating the Coalition will protect Australians' way of life through migration reform. The Greens' Policies page dated 6 May 2025 does not address migration intake numbers or visa settings. One Nation's immigration page does not carry a publication date and does not specify numerical targets. The Liberal Party's 9 July 2026 Sydney Institute address discusses migration in the context of housing and infrastructure pressure but does not propose a specific policy framework.

The Nationals Party states that a Coalition Government will restore integrity and fairness to migration. The Liberal Party states that Labor's policies are locking young Australians out of opportunities through migration settings, as stated on its August 2024 Our Plan page. One Nation states that Australia needs a common-sense immigration policy that puts Australians first. The Greens have not specified a migration position in their reviewed source pages, which means the party does not specify a position on intake, skilled migration, or border policy.

The Greens' Policy Principles and Aims page dates from 6 May 2025 and does not constitute a current migration policy statement.

Liberal says in the August 2024 Our Plan that migration pressures are contributing to housing affordability challenges for young Australians.

Evidence review

What mechanism is stated

Labor states its migration mechanism is the government's migration strategy, implemented through the Department of Home Affairs visa processing and the skilled migration program. The party describes its approach as managing the permanent and temporary visa programs through existing legislative and regulatory frameworks. The Liberal Party does not state a specific migration mechanism in its 2026 sources. The Nationals state their mechanism would be a values-based screening approach within the immigration system, described as the 'first instalment' of the Australian Values Migration Plan. The party does not detail how values would be assessed or which visa categories would be affected.

The Greens do not state a migration mechanism. One Nation states its mechanism would be putting 'Australians first' in immigration policy, which the party states would protect Australian jobs and ensure a future for Australians. The party does not specify the legislative instruments, visa categories, or administrative changes that would implement this approach.

Evidence review

What is costed or quantified

No party provides a current numerical migration intake target in its 2026 source pages reviewed by OzPolitics. Labor does not state the permanent migration planning level for the current or forward years. The Liberals do not state a numerical target. The Nationals state the Coalition would 'reduce the numbers' without specifying a target. The Greens do not address migration numbers. One Nation states the population has 'surged past 27 million' without specifying a target intake or population goal.

No party provides independently costed estimates of the fiscal impact of its migration policies, including the cost of the Nationals' values-based screening, the savings from migration reductions proposed by One Nation, or the economic effects of Labor's approach to skilled migration.

None of the five parties states a numerical permanent migration intake target in their 2026 source pages, which represents a cross-party specification gap. The Nationals state the Coalition would reduce migration numbers as part of the April 2026 values plan without specifying the target reduction. One Nation states population has passed 27 million without specifying a desired level or the means to achieve it. Labor states net overseas migration has moderated from post-pandemic highs without providing current forward-year planning levels. The Liberal Party and Greens do not address migration numbers at all in their reviewed 2026 pages.

Evidence review

What is current law or government action

The current migration framework is established by the Migration Act 1958 and associated regulations. The permanent migration program planning level is set by the government and does not require new legislation to adjust. The skilled occupation lists, temporary skilled migration income threshold, and student visa settings are current government actions administered by the Department of Home Affairs. These references are through the party and institutional context; OzPolitics has not independently reviewed current migration legislation for this comparison.

The Nationals' Values Migration Plan is an opposition proposal and is not current law. The One Nation immigration policy is a party proposal and is not current law. The Liberal Party's 2026 migration position is not specified. The Greens' migration position is not specified. No party has proposed specific migration legislation in the current Parliament in their reviewed source pages.

The Migration Act 1958 and Migration Regulations 1994 establish the current legal framework for all visa categories, character provisions, and review rights. The Department of Home Affairs administers visa processing under this framework. The permanent migration planning level is set by government decision and announced through the Budget; it does not require legislative amendment to adjust. These legal references are provided for context and OzPolitics has not independently reviewed the current legislative text against party claims made on reviewed source pages.

The Greens does not specify a migration policy position in any reviewed source page, leaving a significant specification gap for a party that holds the balance of power in the Senate. The Liberal Party does not specify a current 2026 migration policy or intake target. The Nationals does not specify how its Australian Values Migration Plan of April 2026 would be implemented in law or what numerical reduction in migration it targets.

Evidence review

What remains unspecified or unverified

Labor does not specify the current permanent migration planning level, the allocation between skilled, family and humanitarian streams, or the international student visa settings on its reviewed policy pages. The party's migration strategy is described in general terms on its Opportunities for Australians page without numerical detail. The Liberals' 2026 migration position is entirely unspecified in reviewed sources — the party does not state any current migration policy. The Nationals' Values Migration Plan does not specify the legal basis for values testing, which values would be assessed, who would conduct the assessment, or the numerical reduction target.

The Greens' migration position is entirely unspecified in reviewed sources — the party does not state any current migration policy. One Nation does not specify a numerical intake target, the mechanism for reducing population growth, the international student policy, or the legislative changes needed. The party states it would 'protect Australian jobs' without specifying which sectors, occupations or industries are affected. No party addresses state and territory nomination allocations, regional migration, the humanitarian program, or the interaction between temporary and permanent migration streams in adequate detail in the reviewed source pages.

No party specifies in its reviewed source pages how migration policy interacts with state and territory nomination allocations, which determine a significant portion of skilled migration outcomes. The humanitarian program, international student visa settings, and temporary skilled migration are not separately addressed by any party in their 2026 source material. The Nationals' values plan does not specify the legal mechanism for a values test, how it would interact with existing character provisions in the Migration Act 1958, or what judicial review rights would apply. One Nation's commitment to put Australians first does not specify which industries, visa categories or occupations would be affected.

Liberal has not specified whether it would retain, modify or repeal the current migration strategy, including the permanent intake planning level and international student policy settings. The National Party does not specify the legal basis for its proposed Australian values test or the numerical reduction in migration it targets under the April 2026 plan. The Greens has not specified a migration policy covering intake numbers, skilled migration, international students, or humanitarian programs in any reviewed source.

Common questions

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