Burke locks Labor into 225,000 migration target it may not hit
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke formally locked Labor into Treasury's 225,000 net migration target.
At the National Press Club, Tony Burke said the 225,000 net overseas migration figure must be met. Burke gave no room for failure.
A year earlier, he had resisted naming any target. Burke said there was no magic number.
Migration levels were unpredictable. Treasury does not start with a desired number and work backwards.
It forecasts migration based on observed behaviour and government policy. By locking Labor to a specific figure, Burke gave political opponents a measuring stick.
There is now no guaranteed way to hit it. Labor hoped tighter visa rules and more departures would deliver the number.
But the political terms are now set by the Opposition.
- 225,000
- Migration target
- National Press Club
- Announcement venue
- Called it a guide, one year earlier
- Prior position
- About 10 per cent of voters
- Migration as voting issue
Why it mattersLabor's credibility now rests on meeting a forecast that depends partly on factors the government cannot control. This sets up a trap if migration stays higher.
AustraliaAustralian migration policy is now subject to a formal target that will shape voter judgement of the government at the next election, regardless of whether the number was realistic.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 6 d ago
