The party announced the policy in a press release, saying the measures were necessary to address what it described as a “broken” migration system and the pressures it says mass migration is placing on housing, healthcare, infrastructure and wages.
“Today we committed to a net-negative migration plan during the first three years of a One Nation administration. We would slash over 750,000 temporary visas,” the party said on September 14.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson said the policy would involve a “drastic” reduction in temporary visa holders and a broader reassessment of Australia’s migration settings.
“For a period of three years, we will deliver net negative migration by drastically cutting the number of temporary visa holders,” said Hanson.
“We will take back control of who comes here and how many we accept. Migration must serve Australia, not crush our housing, hospitals, infrastructure, and wages.”
Hanson argued that temporary visa numbers had increased from around two million in 2022 to nearly three million, while claiming the Labor government had brought in more migrants than the population of Adelaide since taking office.
She also criticised both Labor and the Liberal Party, arguing that successive governments had allowed migration to increase while failing to adequately address housing and infrastructure pressures.
“Labor and the Liberals caused this mess by letting migration spiral out of control to prop up their poor economic management,” said Hanson.
“One Nation has heard you loud and clear. Tinkering around the edges will not fix the damage.”
The party said further details of the proposed migration plan would be released over the coming days.
The announcement has drawn criticism from the higher education sector, with Independent Higher Education Australia (IHEA) saying it was “extremely disappointed” by the proposed reduction in international student numbers.
IHEA chief executive Peter Hendy said international education was an important contributor to Australia’s economy and warned against measures that could significantly reduce the sector.
“International education is Australia’s largest services-based export, behind iron ore, coal, and natural gas,” said Hendy.
International education is Australia’s largest services-based export, behind iron ore, coal, and natural gas… The independent higher education sector alone provides $3 billion of tax revenue for Australia
Peter Hendy, IHEA
“The independent higher education sector alone provides $3 billion of tax revenue for Australia.”
IHEA said it would continue to advocate for the independent higher education sector and highlight the contribution of international education to Australia.
Meanwhile, Universities Australia CEO Luke Sheehy said political parties competing to cut international student numbers needed to be honest about what Australia would lose.
“A vote for dramatically fewer international students is a vote for a poorer, less skilled Australia,” said Sheehy.
“You can’t take skills, jobs and billions of dollars of economic activity out of the country and pretend there will be no consequences. International education is one of Australia’s biggest exports. It supports jobs across the economy, helps build the skilled workforce we desperately need and strengthens our relationships around the world.”
Sheehy said that “for years, governments have asked universities to do more while public funding has failed to keep pace with the cost of teaching, research and infrastructure” and added that “international education has helped fill that gap.”
“If politicians want to rip that revenue out of the system, they need to tell Australians what replaces it. Who pays for the research? Who funds the courses and campuses? What happens to university jobs? And where do we find the nurses, engineers, teachers and technology workers Australia needs?”
“Those are the questions One Nation needs to answer today – and they are the same questions Labor and the Coalition need to answer as this race to the bottom continues,” said Sheehy.
One Nation said its broader approach would include cutting immigration, increasing training opportunities for Australians and prioritising the safety and security of Australian citizens.
Earlier this year, Hanson called for international students to leave Australia before applying for further study visas, arguing the change would prevent abuse of the country’s migration system.
She claimed some international students were exploiting visa, appeals and asylum processes to prolong their stay in Australia.
