The rise of One Nation in Australian politics has drawn attention to immigration policy, revealing tensions for both Coalition and Labor parties. Immigration has emerged as a significant factor in voter concerns, with many Australians expressing a desire for a substantial reduction in migrant intake. Despite this, the Labor government under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has maintained a steady stream of arrivals while framing its approach as balanced and responsive.

Since coming to power, the Albanese administration has overseen nearly 1.4 million long-term net migrant arrivals, a figure larger than the population of Adelaide. Labor attributes recent migration patterns to a post-COVID catch-up effect, noting that net overseas migration has been reduced by approximately 40 percent from its peak and is projected to stabilize at around 225,000 annually by 2027–28. The government emphasizes migrants’ critical roles in sectors like healthcare, aged care, childcare, and construction, arguing that intake must also consider housing availability.

Critics, however, argue that the government has been slow to address migration challenges and that official narratives overlook complex realities. They highlight that temporary visa holders have surged from 1.9 million in 2022 to 2.9 million currently, indicating rapid growth and strained immigration management. The extension of COVID-era visa schemes, initially introduced by the previous Coalition government in 2020, was only closed in February 2024 despite evident issues. This contributed to growing numbers of international students and temporary visa holders, many of whom use successive visas to remain in Australia long-term.

International students have become a significant demographic, with figures from New South Wales showing a 7.5 percent increase in university enrollments in 2025, where international students now comprise over one-third of total attendances. Some students reportedly pursue education primarily as a pathway to permanent residency, resulting in increased numbers on graduate visas—from under 100,000 in mid-2022 to 267,000 by April 2024. Concurrently, bridging visa holders grew from around 370,000 to nearly 420,000 over the same period, with some applicants also seeking humanitarian protection.

Demographic shifts are notable as well. The Indian-born population in Australia nearly doubled over a decade, surpassing those born in the United Kingdom as the largest migrant source group. Overall, approximately one-third of Australians are foreign-born, among the highest proportions worldwide.

While the government highlights migrant contributions to the health and construction sectors, some observers question whether reliance on overseas workers masks systemic issues such as insufficient training capacity for local medical professionals. Regarding construction, despite claims of migrant influence, recent arrivals represent less than 3 percent of that workforce, lower than the overall 4.4 percent proportion of foreign-born workers, partially reflecting union preferences.

Economic arguments for high immigration have been met with skepticism by some analysts, who note that although Australia’s population growth rate is among the highest in developed countries, GDP per capita has declined in two-thirds of recent quarters. Critics suggest that immigration policy is heavily influenced by vested interests, including universities and Treasury, which promotes optimistic population forecasts.

Recent policy adjustments appear politically motivated, such as the reduction in permanent skilled regional visas from 33,000 in the previous financial year to 14,000 in the current year. Meanwhile, remittances sent overseas by migrants have surged to an estimated US$14 billion annually, raising questions about the net economic benefit to Australia.

The debate over immigration in Australia encapsulates broader societal questions about national identity and community cohesion, which resonate strongly with supporters of One Nation. Labor’s current stance reflects a cautious balance but may face continued pressure as these concerns gain political traction.