Opposition to Link Temporary Immigration to Annual Housing Completions

The opposition will directly link Australia’s temporary immigration intake to the number of new homes built around the country, using housing completion figures as a hard ceiling for overseas arrivals. The opposition leader will outline the plan in the budget reply speech on Thursday night.

The speech will also include a proposed $5bn housing infrastructure fund and changes to the national construction code intended to speed up building and reduce costs. Under the proposal, the minister for housing would be required to give an annual report on the number of new homes completed in the previous 12 months.

That number would then be used to set the limit for net overseas migration into the country. Net overseas migration is the difference between the number of people arriving and staying in Australia for longer than 12 months and the number of long-term and permanent departures.

The figure is difficult for governments to directly control due to traveller behaviour. Last year there were 172,657 new houses completed around the country, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data. Net overseas migration was 306,000 in 2024-25.

The opposition plans to further tighten temporary migration, including through tougher rules for international students, and prioritisation of quality in skilled visa categories. The plans align with earlier internal documents that forecast a reduction in net overseas migration to between 150,000 and 200,000 per year.

The speech will outline plans for the $5bn housing infrastructure fund, which would be charged with speeding up connection of water services, sewerage, utilities and access roads for new homes. A future government under the opposition would also abolish several current housing programs, including the Housing Australia Future Fund, the Help to Buy scheme, build-to-rent tax incentives and the new homebuyer bonus.

The opposition leader will use the speech to illustrate pressures on first-time buyers and renters. The address comes three months after a change in opposition leadership and follows a recent byelection loss. The proposal would lift the migration cap if housing construction speeds up.

It also includes measures to boost economic growth, improve energy security and reward aspiration.