Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Watt. Net overseas migration for the year up to 31 March 2025 was 315,900. That is 46 per cent higher than the 10-year average before the COVID-19 pandemic and 34 per cent higher than the long-term assumption used by the Centre for Population within the Treasury department. In an interview on the ABC Insiders program on 19 October 2025, the minister was asked whether the current level of immigration was too high. The minister was also asked what an appropriate level of immigration was. The minister did not provide a target number nor a range. Minister, does the government have a target number or even a target range for permanent migration and for net overseas migration for the short, medium and long term?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Scarr. I know that Senator Scarr represents one view of immigration policy that exists within the coalition. We've got Senator Nampijinpa Price up the back there, who's got a different view. Mr Hastie is in the other place with a different view. Senator Sharma probably has a different view, and Senator Antic's got a different view.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Scarr, on a point of order?

Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, it's on direct relevance.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll draw the minister to your question. Minister Watt, please continue.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What I can say is that the Albanese government has one view, which is that we have worked hard to reduce net overseas migration, including through changes to international student numbers that were opposed by the coalition. Yet again, we've seen the coalition argue for one thing and do another. We're not going to take lectures on this or any other policy from a divided rabble of a coalition.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Scarr, first supplementary?

Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I note we didn't get a target number or a range. In its own migration strategy, the government committed to developing a principles based multi-year planning model for permanent migration to improve collaboration with states and territories. In the same interview on ABC's Insiders, the minister advised that he abandoned the multi-year planning approach. Minister, how can all three levels of government undertake appropriate planning for housing supply, services and infrastructure without direction from the federal government on target immigration levels?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Scarr, the facts tell the true story, which is that the most recent data shows that net overseas migration is around 17,000 below Treasury's forecast for the first three-quarters of 2024-25. Net overseas migration has now fallen for six quarters in a row in annual terms, and it's over 40 per cent down on its peak. The government recognised that steps did need to be taken to fix the broken, discredited, corrupted immigration system that we inherited from the coalition. Those figures show that we're doing that.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Scarr, second supplementary?

Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

():  Again, I note that no target or range was provided. When the minister announced the permanent migration program for the current year, he made an announcement of three sentences—less than a hundred words. Minister, do you agree it is in the national interest, especially now with heightened concerns, for the government to provide a detailed statement of reasons for its immigration policy settings, including how it is balancing pressures on housing supply, services and infrastructure with addressing skills shortages?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, seriously, are we expected to take lectures from people who like to, in their home cities, spend a lot of time with multicultural communities but, when they come down to Canberra, vote with people who want to limit Indian migration?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Scarr, a point of order?

Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Direct relevance.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Scarr, the minister has only just begun his response. I will listen carefully to his answer and, if necessary, I will draw him to your question. Minister Watt, please continue.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We will be ready to take lectures from the opposition on matters involving immigration when they can work out just one policy rather than Senator Nampijinpa Price's policy, Senator Scarr's policy and Mr Hastie's policy, which is all about taking over the leadership from Sussan Ley.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ruston, I assume you're rising on a point of order. I will draw the minister to Senator Scarr's question. The minister has completed his answer.