The debate over Australia’s immigration system is heating up again, with Coalition veteran Barnaby Joyce taking to the airwaves to defend the opposition's aggressive push to slash migration numbers.
Appearing on News24, Joyce sought to clarify the Coalition's stance following recent comments from One Nation MP David Farley, insisting that the Coalition is locked in on a drastically lower Net Overseas Migration (NOM) target.
Cleaning Up the Migration Numbers
Joyce firmly declared that the Coalition is sticking to its proposed cap of 130,000 net overseas migrants per year, arguing that current intake levels are simply too high for the nation's infrastructure to support.
When pressed on how such a dramatic reduction would affect regional workforces, Joyce urged observers to "ignore" the numbers associated with the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme. He argued that because PALM workers generally stay in Australia for less than 12 months, they do not factor into the long-term NOM calculations.
"We've reviewed the numbers, we've got far too many," Joyce stated. "130,000 Net Overseas Migration is our number, and we're sticking to it."
Coal Over Migration for Productivity
The interview took a sharp turn when Joyce was asked how slashing migrant labor would impact Australia's overall productivity. Rather than addressing workforce shortages directly, Joyce deflected, linking economic survival to energy costs instead.
He argued that cheap, reliable power is the real key to keeping Australian industry afloat, rather than relying on imported labor.
"Go back to coal-fired power, increase productivity as a nation, stop small businesses going out of business," Joyce said, shifting the blame to the government's transition away from fossil fuels.
The Broadening Policy Divide
Joyce's media appearance comes as the Coalition ramps up pressure on the Albanese government. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor recently reiterated that the Coalition plans to cap migration strictly based on housing supply, though the Coalition's internal policy lead, Senator Jonno Duniam, indicated that the formal policy might not be released until next year.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended Labor's approach, stating the government is working toward a Treasury-forecast NOM of 225,000. Albanese dismissed the Coalition's attacks, claiming that "the Liberal Party have just given up" on producing a serious, workable policy.
With both major parties drawing clear battle lines on housing, energy, and population growth, the migration debate is shaping up to be a defining issue for voters.
