Australia’s refugee intake to be slashed as Labor works to reduce migration amid One Nation pressure

Australia's annual refugee intake will decrease by one third starting in the next financial year, dropping from 20,000 to 13,750 arrivals by 2027-28. This decision comes as the Labor government faces mounting political pressure from the One Nation party, which has gained support largely due to immigration issues. The reduction is part of Labor's broader strategy to decrease net overseas migration to 225,000 for the upcoming financial year.
Labor sources confirmed that this change was publicly disclosed in the May budget and was anticipated after the intake was increased from 17,875 to 20,000 in 2023. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke postponed the announcement of the new policy earlier this month, which will also include stricter rules for backpackers, particularly affecting British working holidaymakers.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that the government is responding to fluctuations in post-pandemic migration patterns and emphasized the need to align numbers with national needs. He acknowledged the rising support for One Nation but insisted that the decision to lower intake numbers was made prior to that shift.
In 2015, Labor's national conference had committed to accepting 27,000 refugees annually by 2025, but recent decisions have sparked criticism from refugee advocates. Jana Favero from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre expressed concern that the government is neglecting its commitments to those in need globally, while Paul Power of the Refugee Council of Australia argued that the cuts contradict the government's previous pledges.


Photo provided by : The Guardian


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