TRANSCRIPT
Speaking on ABC Radio National, Opposition Immigration spokesman Dan Tehan said a Coalition government would cut skilled migration.
"What we're going to do in the first instance is we're going to reduce the skilled migration level. We will take that down from 185,000 to 140,000. The program will continue at 150,000 in years two and three."
The Coalition is yet to release a target for skilled migration - so the figures from its Immigration Spokesperson were unexpected.
Questioned on the wisdom of reducing skilled visas at a time of worker shortages, Mr Tehan told ABC's Radio National that some skills would in fact be prioritised.
"We've said we want to prioritise those trade areas to complement out plumbers, our electricians, our builders, and we will focus on that. We've also said in those areas for instance in terms of hospitality where we need chefs and cooks we'll look at prioritising those areas. when it comes to aged care. What we'll do is we will change the settings that the Labor party have put in place, which is actually restricting people from being able to come in. "
The skilled migration intake is currently limited to 132,000 places - that's 8000 places fewer than the target cited as Coalition policy by Mr Tehan.
When asked by SBS if his party was in fact proposing to increase migration - Opposition Leader Peter Dutton replied that he hadn't seen the comments made by his Immigration Spokesperson - but confirmed his party would cut overall migration.
Dutton: "What we've said is that we are gonna cut migration by 25 per cent, because we are going to cut it by 25 per cent, because the government has created a housing crisis, bringing two million people in over two years, which is unprecedented, so we gonna fix that."
Reporter:"So do you think he misspeaks?"
Dutton: "We are gonna fix up Labor's mess, we've been clear about what we will be doing in Year 1 and 2, where we will reduce by 25 per cent in Year 3 and 4, we will bring it back up. We have to get Aussie kids to the houses."
The Opposition Leader has previously said he will cut net overseas migration by 100,000 places in order to free up more housing for young people in Australia.
Net migration refers to the difference between the number of people arriving in Australia and those leaving.
To achieve the Coalition's migration targets, Mr Tehan confirmed a Dutton government would cut Australia’s humanitarian intake by 20,000, to its long-term average of 13,750, and reduce foreign student commencements by at least 30,000.
Parent visas and partner visas would not change under a Coalition government.
The Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia earlier this week released a statement criticising Coalition proposals to change the citizenship 'values' test and ban refugees from Gaza.
Chairperson Peter Doukas says he's also concerned migrants have become scapegoats for the cost of living and housing crises.
"We've seen a divergence, particularly from some political actors, of their traditional stance protecting the pluralistic nature of our multicultural society, and for that reason we have voiced our concerns that we want to keep racism, racial profiling, out of this campaign. All parties have concerning rhetoric regarding immigration in a way that is different from previous stances and the stances of previous Australian governments."
Peter Khalil is recontesting the safe Labor seat of Wills in Melbourne's north in the May 3 election, and is also the government's special envoy for social cohesion.
He says the Labor Party is proud of its record in resettling Palestinian refugees from Gaza.
"I think Australia is only one of three countries that's provided thousands of visas for Palestinian refugees. We've resettled a number of refugees in my electorate. I've worked with Palestinian families, in fact helped some families to get out of Gaza and worked with the Foreign Ministry and so on to do that work and help resettle them. We don't make a big fuss about it, we don't make TikTok videos about it because this is about making sure we get outcomes."
For more election coverage go to sbs.com.au/news
