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Canavan: Coalition to Slash Migration, Introduce New Dedicated Ag Visa
The plan would cut temporary visas, protect regional work schemes and create 15,000 project visas for major construction jobs.
The Coalition pledged the "biggest cut to immigration in Australian history," aiming to slash net overseas migration to 100,000 and introduce a new agricultural visa from 2030.
Nationals leader Matt Canavan announced the policy as migration became one of the country's biggest political issues, particularly among voters shifting toward One Nation's aggressive anti-migration platform.
The plan reduces temporary visa holders by about 650,000 over four years, cutting student visas from 528,000 to 456,000, and scraps Labor's ballot system for Working Holiday Maker visas.
National Farmers' Federation president Hamish McIntyre welcomed the proposal, calling for bipartisan support to develop a "practical, durable model" with strong worker protections for agriculture.
These measures form part of a broader election pitch addressing housing and cost-of-living pressures, with Australia's net overseas migration reaching 292,000 in the 12 months to March 2026.