Queensland Premier Sides With Federal Opposition on Migration Cut

Queensland Premier Steven Miles speaks to the media during a press conference in Brisbane, Australia, on June 30, 2020. AAP Image/Glenn Hunt

Queensland Premier Steven Miles has urged the government to curb the influx of overseas migration as the state struggles to cope with a sharp rise in population.

In a surprise move that deviated from the party line, the Labor premier supported Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s recent proposal to cut migration intake.

During his budget reply in mid-May, Mr. Dutton shared his party’s plan to cut permanent immigration by 25 percent from the current level of 185,000 to 140,000 in the next two years if the Coalition was elected in the upcoming federal election.

The opposition leader said the plan was a “rebalancing” of the migration program to alleviate the pressure on the housing system by freeing up 100,000 homes in five years.

He also proposed reducing the number of international students at metropolitan universities to relieve stress in rental markets in major cities.

During recent interviews with the media, Mr. Miles threw his support behind the opposition’s migration cut plan.

“The level of migration we are currently experiencing in Queensland is putting too much pressure on our housing system, so I welcome Peter Dutton echoing my comments,” he said.

According to the Queensland government, the state’s population soared by 144,000 people or 2.7 percent in the 12 months to September 2023, the highest level ever recorded.

Of those people, 88,000 came from overseas, and the remaining were from other Australian states and territories.

Regarding interstate migration, the 2024-25 budget papers forecasted that Queensland would see a net gain of over 110,000 people in the next five years.

Due to the rapid population growth, Mr. Miles said Queensland’s housing system would be unable to meet the rising demand of its residents.

“While our Homes for Queenslanders plan will deliver more homes, if migration continues at current levels, we’ll need tens of thousands more homes every year than the industry can build,” he said.

“We urge them [the federal government] to consider moderating migration levels to assist with population.”

Prime Minister’s Response

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese downplayed Mr. Miles’ comments, saying the opposition’s migration cut would negatively impact Queensland.

“There’s nothing about Steven Miles that'll be cheering on Peter Dutton because he knows that it would be a disaster for Queensland,” he told ABC Radio.

He also criticised the former Queensland Liberal government for cutting spending on housing and essential services.

“The former government did nothing to fund public housing and to support people when and where they needed it. There was a great deal of waste and no economic plan.”

In addition, the prime minister said the opposition had no specific plan to cut permanent migration to 140,000 a year.

“He [Peter Dutton] has a vibe, not a policy. And like all of the so-called announcements that he’s made, when you look at the detail, it simply isn’t there. No costings, no understanding about impacts on the economy,” Mr. Albanese said.

“This is an opposition that has had three budget replies and not put out a single-cost policy on any issue whatsoever.”