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One Nation Proposes 750,000 Reduction in Migration Over Three Years
24 September 2026 9 min read
One Nation released its migration policy on 14 September 2026, proposing to reduce migration by 750,000 people over three years. The policy was announced by party leader Pauline Hanson and Treasury spokesperson Barnaby Joyce.[1][2]
This is a party policy, not the law
Nothing in this plan changes any visa rule. It describes what One Nation says it would seek to do if it formed government, and most of it would require legislation. Current migration law and the government's own announced changes continue to apply.
The centrepiece is a period of net negative migration, meaning more people leaving Australia than arriving, for three years.[1][3]
Students would bear a large share of the reduction. The policy proposes:[1]
Visas for the families of skilled migrants would be cut to zero, with the possibility of availability on a needs basis in certain sectors.[1] This would be a significant departure from current settings, under which skilled visa holders, including those on the Subclass 482 and 186, can generally include partners and dependent children in their application.
People in Australia without a valid visa would be given three months to leave. Those who remained would be deported and banned from ever re-entering Australia.[2] The party indicated enforcement would not involve door to door operations.[1]
The policy drew criticism from the government, the opposition and industry.[1]
The policy was released three days before the government announced its own package. Both aim to reduce migration, but they differ sharply in scale and in who bears the reduction. The government's measures are covered in our report on Labor's migration overhaul.
| Area | Government, announced | One Nation, proposed |
|---|---|---|
| Net overseas migration | 245,000 in 2026-27, then 225,000 a year | Net negative for three years, then a 130,000 ceiling |
| Student visas | Most students lose the ability to bring family | Places cut from about 590,000 to 350,000 |
| Graduates staying on | Only move to a higher qualification level | Cut from about 270,000 to 40,000 |
| Skilled migrant families | No change announced | Cut to zero, possibly needs based in some sectors |
| Working holiday makers | Second and third years capped by ballot | Program retained |
| Overstayers | Detention reintroduced, more compliance staff | Three months to leave, then removal and lifetime ban |
In practical terms, nothing. A party policy has no effect on visa applications, and any of these measures would need a change of government and, in most cases, new legislation. Applicants should plan around current law and the government's announced changes, not around proposals from parties outside government.
What the policy does signal is the direction of the wider political debate. With both the government and One Nation proposing reductions, and the government already acting on students and working holiday makers, it is reasonable to expect migration settings to remain tighter and more changeable than in recent years.
One Nation's plan is the most far reaching migration reduction proposed by any party in this debate, built around three years of net negative migration and deep cuts to student and skilled family visas. It has been criticised by the government, the opposition and industry groups alike. It changes nothing for applicants today, but it is a useful marker of how far the migration debate has shifted.
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This article reports on a political party's published policy for informational purposes and does not endorse any party or position. It does not constitute legal advice. For advice on your circumstances, contact our team.