Coalition considers plan to slash net overseas immigration by nearly half its current rate, leaked documents reveal

The Coalition is planing to cut Australia’s annual net overseas immigration levels to 150,000-200,000, according to a confidential policy roadmap that reveals Angus Taylor is preparing to fight a possible early election. An internal document circulated to senior Coalition MPs details the key policies the opposition wants to build its election platform on, as it rebuilds from its catastrophic 2025 loss. The document shows Taylor wants the Coalition’s “full platform” ready for a sign-off in February 2027, suggesting he wants to be prepared if Anthony Albanese calls an early election and to avoid the last-minute policy chaos that plagued Peter Dutton’s 2025 campaign. Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email After ousting Sussan Ley as Liberal leader in February, Taylor has been overseeing policy groups in seven priority areas: the economy, energy, families, better government services, housing, migration and national security. The work of each taskforce - which is led by relevant shadow ministers - focuses on a specific policy “problem” the Coalition wants to solve. For example, the question put to the migration taskforce is: “How can Australia reduce net overseas migration to 150,000-200,000 per year while minimising budget and economic impacts and strengthening social cohesion and Australia values?” Taylor has vowed to slow arrival numbers as part of a hardline immigration strategy, but has not publicly committed to a specific target. …