Opposition leader to unveil plan to dramatically cut number of migrants in budget reply speech on ThursdayExplore all of our 2026 Australia federal budget coverageGet our breaking news email, free app or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-
Angus Taylor will outline the Coalition’s plan to cut the number of migrants coming into Australia, using housing completion figures as a hard ceiling for overseas arrivals.
Photograph: Hilary Wardhaugh/Getty Images View image in fullscreen Angus Taylor will outline the Coalition’s plan to cut the number of migrants coming into Australia, using housing completion figures as a hard ceiling for overseas arrivals.
Photograph: Hilary Wardhaugh/Getty Images Coalition to link immigration limits to new builds as Taylor says ‘migration has run miles ahead of housing’ Opposition leader to unveil plan to dramatically cut number of migrants in budget reply speech on Thursday Explore all of our 2026 Australia federal budget coverage Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The Coalition will directly link Australia’s temporary immigration intake to the number of new homes built around the country, using housing completion figures as a hard ceiling for overseas arrivals.
The opposition leader, Angus Taylor , will outline the plan to dramatically cut the number of migrants arriving into the country in his budget reply speech on Thursday night, while also promising a new $5bn housing infrastructure fund and a weakening of the national construction code to speed up building and reduce cost.
Angus Taylor’s shameful remarks about ‘bad’ countries obscure the bigger question – how can we make sure Australia is a good one? | Sisonke Msimang Read more “This is about mass migration running ahead of the homes, roads, hospitals, schools and services Australia can provide,” Taylor will tell parliament, according to a preview of the speech.
Under a Coalition government, the minister for housing would be required to give an annual report on the number of new homes completed in the previous 12 months. That number would be used to limit net overseas migration into the country.
Net overseas migration is the difference between the number of people arriving and staying in Australia for longer than 12 months and the number of long-term and permanent departures. The figure is difficult for governments to directly control due to traveller behaviour.
Last year there were 172,657 new houses completed around the country, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data. But net overseas migration was higher, at 306,000 in 2024-25, meaning rules to limit migrants coming into the country would have to be made tougher.
Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email If housing construction speeds up, a Coalition government would lift its “cap”.
“Under Labor, migration has run miles ahead of housing and that puts pressure on rents, house prices and on every young Australian trying to get ahead,” Taylor will say.
He will use the speech to illustrate the housing crisis for first-time buyers and renters.
“Australians can see the housing crisis every weekend.” “They see it in the line around the block at rental inspections, they see it when the rent goes up and they see it when young people who have worked hard and saved hard are told the dream of home ownership has moved further out of reach.” The Coalition also plans to further tighten temporary migration, including through tougher rules for international students, and prioritisation of quality in skilled visa categories.
The plans are in line with leaked internal documents obtained by Guardian Australia earlier this month, which forecast moves by Taylor to reduce net overseas migration to between 150,000 and 200,000 per year.
The figures would be higher than Howard-era net overseas immigration levels of about 100,000 . Former opposition leader Peter Dutton pledged to cut net overseas migration to 160,000 in his first year if he won the 2025 election.
After last weekend’s Farrer byelection loss, Taylor will attempt to use the speech to reassert his authority and stop an exodus of support to One Nation.
The Pauline Hanson-led party wants to cut migration to 130,000 people a year.
Newly elected Farrer MP David Farley told a candidate forum ahead of the byelection that One Nation wanted to “ match immigration to a housing policy, a health policy and an education policy ”.
Taylor will use the speech to outline plans for the $5bn housing infrastructure fund, charged with speeding up connection of water services, sewerage, utilities and access roads for new homes.
A Coalition government would also abolish Labor’s housing programs, including the Housing Australia Future Fund, the Help to Buy scheme, build-to-rent tax incentives and the new homebuyer bonus.
Taylor’s speech – a major marker three months on from his ousting of Sussan Ley as Liberal leader – will also include plans to boost economic growth, improve energy security and reward aspiration.
Explore more on these topics Australian politics Angus Taylor Liberal party Coalition Australian budget 2026 Housing news Share Reuse this content
