One Nation’s migration policy aligns with Labor’s and Coalition’s targets
Consensus Summary
One Nation MP David Farley has clarified that his party’s migration policy, targeting a net overseas migration (Nom) of 130,000 while adding 100,000 skilled workers, is not significantly different from Labor’s and the Coalition’s approaches. Both major parties are adjusting their migration policies to address public concerns, with Labor aiming to reduce Nom to 225,000 by 2028 and the Coalition proposing to link migration to housing construction rates. Farley emphasized the need for skilled workers in rural industries like agriculture and aged care, citing figures such as 40,000 Pacific Australia Labour Mobility workers and 70,000 skilled aged care migrants. The government’s recent Nom of 301,000 last year exceeded forecasts, prompting reforms to tighten temporary visas. Business groups have warned that further reductions in skilled migration could worsen workforce shortages in critical sectors, while One Nation’s policy remains focused on regional productivity over urban migration.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- One Nation’s net overseas migration (Nom) target is 130,000, excluding skilled workers, backpackers, and Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) workers
- One Nation proposes a minimum of 100,000 additional skilled workers (including 40,000 PALM workers and 70,000 skilled aged care migrants) on top of the 130,000 Nom target, totaling about 230,000 a year
- The government forecasts net overseas migration to drop to 225,000 in 2027-28
- The government’s permanent migration places for this financial year are 185,000
- The Coalition has indicated its Nom target will be 'well below 200,000'
- One Nation’s policy includes a focus on rural and regional workforce needs, such as agriculture, engineering, and mining
- The government’s Nom was 301,000 last year, exceeding the forecast of 295,000
- One Nation’s migration policy excludes short-term visitors like tourists from its Nom calculation
- The government is planning reforms to tighten temporary visas to reduce migration to 225,000 by 2028
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- One Nation’s Nom target of 130,000 is described as a 'hard visa cap' that could lead to a negative Nom if interpreted literally
- The government’s Nom was forecast to drop to 245,000 in 2026-27
- Former Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce, who defected to One Nation last December, suggested the 130,000 figure was a Nom target rather than a visa cap
- David Farley’s electorate in south-western NSW relies heavily on migrant workers for aged care and food processing, with over two-thirds of workers in slaughterhouses and processing units being migrants
- The government’s Nom surged after the pandemic, falling below zero during that period
- Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke canceled a planned National Press Club appearance this month due to internal unrest over migration policy
- One Nation’s migration rate of about 230,000 a year is close to Labor’s target of 225,000 by 2028
- The government issued a directive in July to prioritize visa processing for people already onshore, slowing arrivals overseas
- The Coalition plans to tie migration to housing construction rates, restricting migration to the pace of housing completions from the previous year
- Business groups have called for stability in the migration system, warning a race to the bottom could worsen workforce shortages in sectors like aged care, health, and infrastructure
- The Australian Industry Group urged permanent skilled migration to remain at current levels and for visa processing to be sped up
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- The Guardian states the government’s Nom was 301,000 last year, while the ABC does not mention this specific number but refers to a general overshoot of forecasts after border reopening
- The Guardian mentions a forecast of 245,000 Nom in 2026-27, but the ABC does not reference this specific figure
- The Guardian notes the government’s Nom was forecast to drop to 295,000 last financial year, but the ABC does not provide this exact figure
- The Guardian states the Coalition’s Nom target will be 'well below 200,000,' while the ABC does not explicitly confirm this number but notes the Coalition is developing policy to tie migration to housing construction rates
Source Articles
One Nation MP concedes party’s migration target ‘not too different’ from Labor’s once rural workforce included
David Farley says party wants 100,000 migrant rural workers in addition to the 130,000 migration target it considers the ‘true’ number Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast One Nation MP David Farley has conceded the minor party’s net migration target is “not too different” to Labor’s, echoing an earlier claim over which he was counselled by his party leader, Pauline Hanson. Appearing on the ABC’s Insiders program on S
One Nation pursuing migration rate 'not too different' to Labor
One Nation MP David Farley also told Insiders One Nation would seek to redirect immigration to regional areas and away from cities.
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