One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has unveiled one of her party’s most ambitious migration proposals in years, calling for Australia’s annual migration intake to be reduced to around 130,000 people while arguing the country should stop admitting migrants for occupations she believes do not address genuine workforce shortages.

Speaking during an interview on News24, Senator Hanson criticised Australia’s migration system, describing it as “an absolute scam” and claiming successive governments had allowed migration levels to grow well beyond what the country could sustainably accommodate.

“Why bring in so many people that don’t fit the needs that we want in Australia? We don’t need any more Uber drivers, nail technicians, dog walkers. These people gone. Stop all that,” Hanson said while outlining her proposed reforms.

Under One Nation’s policy, Australia’s permanent migration intake would be reduced to approximately 130,000 places annually, significantly below the Albanese Government’s announced permanent Migration Program of 185,000 places for the 2026–27 financial year.

Hanson said she had maintained a consistent position on immigration for decades, arguing Australia should continue accepting migrants with skills that fill genuine shortages—including doctors, nurses and other essential professionals—but should substantially reduce migration for occupations she believes add little to the nation’s long-term economic needs.

“You still have to allow people into the country because there are businesses and doctors and nurses that we need,” she said.

“But cutting back immigration will address the housing issue that we have.”

Migration has become one of Australia’s most politically contentious issues following the sharp increase in net overseas migration after international borders reopened following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Net overseas migration peaked at approximately 556,000 people during 2022 before easing to around 301,000 over the most recent year, according to official government figures. While that represents a substantial decline, migration levels remain above long-term historical averages.

The Albanese Government has repeatedly stated that it intends to bring migration onto a more sustainable footing rather than pursue further large increases.

In May, the government confirmed the 2026–27 permanent Migration Program would remain at 185,000 places, with approximately 70 per cent allocated to skilled migration and 30 per cent to family visas.

Hanson argues those settings do not go far enough.

She contends high migration has become a major contributor to Australia’s housing affordability crisis by increasing demand for rental accommodation and home purchases faster than new housing can be built.

Housing affordability has become one of the defining political issues across Australia, with vacancy rates remaining low in many capital cities while median house prices continue to sit near record levels.

One Nation says reducing migration would provide additional time for housing construction to catch up with population growth.

The proposal also reflects the party’s longstanding position that Australia’s migration program should be more selective and focused primarily on occupations experiencing critical shortages.

Hanson has argued employers have become too reliant on overseas workers rather than investing in training Australians or offering higher wages to attract domestic employees.

The comments come as Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke prepares a broader package of migration reforms.

A major address outlining those reforms was postponed after the government decided additional policy details required further consideration before public release.

Government sources have indicated the planned reforms are not intended to reduce migration below existing forecasts but instead aim to ensure previously announced targets are actually achieved. Measures are expected to focus on reducing abuse of the migration system and limiting opportunities for individuals to prolong their stay through lengthy legal processes after visa refusals.

Another recent administrative change involves skilled visa processing.

The Department of Home Affairs has adjusted processing priorities to give greater emphasis to temporary visa holders already living in Australia who are transitioning to permanent residency, rather than applicants arriving from overseas.

The objective is to reduce net overseas migration while continuing to fill essential workforce needs.

Hanson suggested the government’s evolving approach demonstrates that One Nation is influencing the national political conversation.

She claimed growing public support for her party had placed pressure on both Labor and the Coalition to adopt tougher migration policies.

“They’re both really concerned about the support we’re getting, based on really the one issue is mass migration that’s happening in Australia,” she said.

Business groups, however, have expressed concern about proposals for substantially deeper migration cuts.

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has warned that many sectors—including healthcare, construction, hospitality, engineering and information technology—continue to depend on skilled migration to address workforce shortages.

Industry leaders argue reducing migration too aggressively could make it harder for employers to recruit qualified workers, potentially slowing economic growth and investment.

Economists also note that migration plays multiple roles within Australia’s economy.

While rapid population growth can place pressure on housing, transport and other infrastructure in the short term, migrants also expand the labour force, support consumer spending and help offset Australia’s ageing population.

For that reason, many policy experts argue the challenge lies in balancing migration with housing construction, infrastructure investment and labour market demand rather than relying solely on annual migration targets.

The debate has intensified as housing affordability and cost-of-living pressures continue to dominate political discussion ahead of future elections.

One Nation has made migration one of its signature policy issues, arguing lower migration would reduce demand for housing and public services while improving employment opportunities for Australians.

The Albanese Government, by contrast, maintains that a carefully managed migration program remains essential for economic growth while acknowledging that migration levels must remain sustainable.

The coming reforms are expected to focus on tightening administration of the existing system rather than adopting the large numerical reductions proposed by One Nation.

Whether Hanson’s proposal gains broader political support remains uncertain.

Supporters argue it directly addresses concerns over housing affordability, infrastructure congestion and population growth.

Critics contend it oversimplifies the role migration plays in Australia’s economy and risks worsening labour shortages in industries already struggling to recruit staff.

As Canberra prepares to unveil further migration reforms, the competing priorities of housing supply, economic growth, workforce shortages and population planning are likely to remain central to Australia’s national political debate.