Despite anti-immigration protests, Australia decides to keep intake numbers constant

The Australian government will keep the permanent migration level for 2025-’26 at 185,000, the same level as the previous financial year.

Immigration Minister Tony Burke announced the figure amid a fresh divisive debate about immigration, intensified by the weekend marches calling for lower numbers.

Neo-Nazis were prominent, especially in Melbourne, while on Tuesday self-identifying Neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell interrupted a news conference by Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan.

Burke said the announcement followed consultation with the states and territories which “recommended maintaining the size and composition of the programme, with a focus on skilled migration”.

This figure is distinct from Net Overseas Migration, the overall measure that includes students and temporary workers. The Net Overseas Migration jumped dramatically after the end of Covid, and the government has been actively reducing it, including by limits on overseas students.

The Net Overseas Migration peaked at 538,000 in 2022-’23. For the 12 months to December 31, 2024, the Net Overseas Migration was 341,000. That was 37% down compared to the peak.

For the December quarter 2024, the Net Overseas Migration was 68,000. This was the lowest December quarter since December 2021 when border restrictions were lifted.

Student Net Overseas Migration arrivals in the December quarter 2024 (22,000) were 10,000 fewer than the December quarter 2023 (32,000) and have fallen...

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