Australia's annual refugee intake will drop by a third to Coalition-era levels next financial year as the Labor government moves to reduce migration under mounting political pressure from One Nation.
Key facts
- Australia's annual refugee quota will fall by a third in 2027-28.
- The intake will drop from the current 20,000 arrivals per year to 13,750.
- The reduction returns the quota to Coalition-era levels.
- The move comes as Labor works to lower overall migration amid pressure from One Nation.
- The Greens said the decision makes Australia 'meaner and weaker'.
Australia’s annual refugee intake will be cut by a third next financial year, according to the Guardian, as the Labor government works to drive down migration levels amid increasing political pressure from One Nation.
The refugee quota, currently set at 20,000 arrivals per year, will drop back to 13,750 in 2027-28. The Guardian reported that this returns the intake to levels seen during the previous Coalition government.
The reduction is part of a broader effort by Labor to lower overall migration, the Guardian said, in a political environment shaped by pressure from One Nation.
The Greens criticised the decision, saying the move makes Australia ‘meaner and weaker,’ according to the Guardian.
The report frames the cut as a response to political dynamics around migration, with the government seeking to reduce the numbers of people arriving through the humanitarian program.
Why it matters
Refugee intake levels directly affect thousands of people seeking resettlement each year and reflect a country's humanitarian commitments. The decision signals how domestic political pressure over migration is shaping Australian government policy.
Frequently asked questions
How much will Australia's refugee intake fall?
The annual refugee quota will fall by a third, from the current 20,000 arrivals per year to 13,750 in 2027-28, according to the Guardian.
Why is Labor reducing the refugee quota?
The Guardian reports the cut is part of Labor's efforts to drive down migration levels amid increasing political pressure from One Nation.
How have critics responded?
The Greens said the move makes Australia 'meaner and weaker,' according to the Guardian.