‘Not a strong argument’ to lower refugee intake numbers

An intervention from the prime minister on Australia’s refugee intake is not a reflection of Labor’s broader overhaul of migration numbers, a cabinet minister says.

Anthony Albanese confirmed on Thursday the nation’s annual refugee intake would remain at 20,000 people, despite earlier reports suggesting it could be cut by one-third to 13,750 at the next federal budget.

“This intake number remains government policy and will be continued in future years, consistent with Australia’s humanitarian commitments and sits beside our strong border security measures,” he said.

The annual refugee intake was increased to 20,000 in 2023, but was due to revert to the previous level of 13,750 at the beginning of the 2027/28 financial year.

Cabinet minister Tim Ayres said refugee numbers made up a fraction of overall migration levels, and should not be viewed as a sign of further policy changes.

“There’s not a strong argument to move that figure. It’s a small part of the overall migration program,” he told News24 on Friday.

“I wouldn’t single (the refugee intake) program out. Of course, there’s a focus on skilled migration, making sure that works for us.”

Health Minister Mark Butler said keeping refugee targets at their current numbers was “not a backflip” by the prime minister.

Immigration Minister Tony Burke was set to unveil Labor’s overhaul of migration policy at the National Press Club earlier in August.

The speech was cancelled at the eleventh hour after it was not signed off by federal cabinet due to internal disagreement.

The issue of migration has come to the forefront of political debate since One Nation’s rise in opinion polling.

While the minor party had pledged to reduce annual net overseas migration to 130,000 people, there has been confusion over the policy stance from within One Nation.

One Nation MP David Farley said the migration policy would include an extra 100,000 people, such as workers from the Pacific and skilled workers, on top of the 130,000 figure.

The comments prompted an intervention by leader Pauline Hanson on social media.

Senator Hanson said the 130,000 number would be separate to the amount of Pacific workers coming in to Australia, who largely work in regional areas.

“They’re provided accommodation, usually by those on the farms. They’re not taking up the housing. So that’s a totally different matter,” she told the Bush Summit on Thursday.

The varying policy stances on migration from One Nation meant they could not be taken seriously on the issue, Senator Ayres said.

“There’s a lot of noise as One Nation and the Liberals and the Nationals kind of compete with each other,” he said.

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor said the coalition would consider lowering the refugee intake as part of its migration policy, but any numbers would be unveiled closer to the federal election due to be held by May 2028.

“When we see what the housing construction looks like, we’ll announce the number, and the visa classes will align with that,” he told News24.

“We’re a very generous country, but charity starts at home, and we’ve got to do the right thing by Australians first.”

Mr Taylor has indicated the overall net overseas migration number would be below 200,000, but that the final figure would be tied to the number of homes completed.

The refugee debate was creating concern in communities, Greens senator David Shoebridge said.

“Supporters of those people seeking asylum were in absolute tumult, desperately concerned about what was happening, getting within less than 24 hours two totally different messages out of the government,” he told ABC Radio.

“(Immigration Minister Tony Burke) wouldn’t have presented those savage cuts unless he’d been through a process, and then it’s turned on its head by the prime minister in less than 24 hours.”