Liberal deputy leader Jane Hume speaks during a press conference at Australian Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Feb. 13, 2026. Hilary Wardhaugh/Getty Images
The federal opposition says it is willing to work with Labor on its migration policy, but would like to see more of their ideas incorporated into it.
Students will also be allowed to transfer study to other higher level courses, a new crackdown on “visa hopping,” as well as placing caps on backpackers trying to stay a second or third year, except those from the UK.
The Labor government intends to lower net overseas migration to 245,000 this financial year, followed by 225,000 the next.
Jonno Duniam, shadow immigration spokesman, said Labor’s policy did not go far enough.
“We’re still not building enough homes and the system is clearly not working, so there’s more work to do,” he told SBS.
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“Happy to work with government, but we’d like them to come to the table with some of the things that we’ve been asking for.”
It also makes the Australian values statement a legally binding document, and pledges tougher screening of social media histories, and brings back temporary protection visas for asylum seekers—limiting the pathway to permanent residency.
Meanwhile, Deputy Opposition Leader Jane Hume criticised Labor’s plan to cut back on backpacker numbers.
“We certainly wouldn’t be cutting the desperately needed labour to regional Australia, particularly around harvest time, because (Labor Health Minister Mark Butler’s) right, we need more doctors and nurses, and we need more construction workers,” she said.
“But, if you can’t feed Australians, what’s the point?”
“When they pat themselves on the back and say, ‘Look, we’re bringing the numbers down,’ it’s from their own highs. That’s what’s been causing the problem,” she said.
“The government supports immigration but is opposed to anyone rorting the immigration system,” he said in a statement.
“Almost everyone who comes to Australia is a good guest in our country. These reforms are to ensure that our migration system can be better targeted to the current needs of Australia.”
