One Nation has proposed reducing temporary visa holders by over 750,000 over three years, focusing particularly on cutting international student visas from more than 290,000 to 115,000 annually and eliminating secondary visas for family members. Barnaby Joyce, a One Nation MP, defended the policy against criticism for lacking economic impact analysis by questioning the reliability of government agency analyses. Experts warn that such drastic reductions in migration have historically occurred only during severe economic downturns or wars and could severely affect regional economies and industries like agriculture, hospitality, and aged care.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-15,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
One Nation, an Australian political party led by Pauline Hanson, recently proposed a migration policy that aims to reduce temporary visa holders and overstayers by more than 750,000 over three years. The plan specifically targets international student visas, reducing grants from over 290,000 to 115,000 annually and eliminating secondary visas for family members. Barnaby Joyce, a One Nation MP, defended the policy against criticism that it lacked an economic impact analysis by stating, "They're not elected. I am," implying that his party’s judgment is more reliable than official government analyses. The Parliamentary Budget Office was not used to model this policy's financial implications, despite Labor Party efforts to develop their own migration reforms behind closed doors.
Written for “Australian Migration Debate” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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stored, so you can find it in the original.
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One Nation has again defended its migration policy for not including the cost of slashing temporary visa holders as Labor continues working on its own policy behind closed doors.
right Supports a right-wing stance on immigration enforcement.
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'They're not elected. I am,' he told the ABC's National Forum on Monday night, questioning the quality of the analysis provided by government agencies.
right Discredits expert analysis in favor of populist sentiment.
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'I've never seen forward estimates in any budgetary paper being even close to the mark of what it's supposed to do, and so the will of the Australian people is so pronounced. This has to be dealt with.'
right Prioritizes public opinion over expert economic analysis.
Leaning score +0.65 for article 10616 (high confidence, 3 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-15
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One Nation has again defended its migration policy for not including the cost of slashing temporary visa holders as Labor continues working on its own policy behind closed doors.
As Labor prepares to announce sweeping migration reforms of its own, Pauline Hanson pipped the government with a plan to reduce the number of temporary visa holders and overstayers by more than 750,000 over three years.
asserted
Hanson → see → years
International student visas bore the brunt of the cuts, with visa grants set to be reduced from more than 290,000 to 115,000 per year and secondary visas for family members eliminated.
asserted
visas → bear → members
The policy outline distributed on Monday did not include economic impact.
One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce dismissed further criticism for not modelling the economic impact of the policy or using the Parliamentary Budget Office to do so.
'
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Joyce → distribute → Office
They're not elected.
asserted
They → elect → ?
I am,' he told the ABC's National Forum on Monday night, questioning the quality of the analysis provided by government agencies.
asserted
he → tell → agencies
'I've never seen forward estimates in any budgetary paper being even close to the mark of what it's supposed to do, and so the will of the Australian people is so pronounced.
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will → see → people
This has to be dealt with.'
When asked whether people with skills will come to Australia if they cannot bring their children or spouses, Joyce said it's a decision for an individual to make.
Experts warned One Nation's pledge to deliver three years of negative migration has never happened except in times of severe economic stress or World War II.
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pledge → have → stress
One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce dismissed further criticism for not modelling the economic impact of the policy or using the Parliamentary Budget Office to do so
Industry Minister Tim Ayres said if implemented, it would be a wrecking ball through regional economies.
'
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it → dismiss → economies
It would hurt the agriculture sector.
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It → hurt → sector
It would hurt the hospitality and the aged care sectors in particular,' he said.
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he → hurt → hospitality
Coalition immigration spokesman Jonathon Duniam said he won't be copying the homework of One Nation, promising an alternative policy in time
'
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he → say → time
I would never copy a piece of work that has not been modelled, has not been costed.
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that → copy → work
We don't understand the impact,' he told News24.
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he → understand → News24
One Nation's plan to slash Australia's international student intake could clear the massive backlog of temporary visa applicants clogging the appeals system, but it could also 'decimate' the university sector.
uncertain
it → slash → sector
Governments had forced universities into relying on foreign student fees to balance their books, International Education Association of Australia chief executive Phil Honeywood said.
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Honeywood → force → Australia
'The types of changes proposed will decimate an industry that employs 250,000 Australians and crucially keeps our public universities afloat,' he told AAP.
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he → propose → AAP
Growing numbers of international students, and their families, remaining in Australia on bridging visas have been a major contributor to net overseas migration overshooting the government's forecasts in recent years.
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migration → grow → years
International student visas bore the brunt of the cuts, with visa grants set to be reduced from more than 290,000 to 115,000 per year and secondary visas for family members eliminated
As the Home Affairs department has ramped up refusals for student visa applications, the number of students launching appeals in the Administrative Review Tribunal has exploded.
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number → bear → Tribunal
The total number of migration and refugee cases being assessed almost doubled from July 2024 to July 2026.
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number → assess → July
Labor earlier in 2026 passed legislation changing the way the tribunal conducts hearings for student visa appeals in a bid to speed up processing times and cut down the backlog.
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tribunal → pass → backlog
Since the limit on in-person hearings for student visas took effect on June 1, it has shown some early promise.
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it → take → promise
Regardless, the student visa backlog still grew to 53,608 by the end of July.
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backlog → grow → July
Honeywood said there was evidence that a minority of international students were gaming the system and changes made by the federal government in recent years have attempted to clamp down on it.
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changes → say → it
'Unfortunately that has developed a lawyers' picnic that allows any number of appeals and the Albanese government are finding ways to reduce appeal rights for non-genuine students,' he said.
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he → develop → students
One Nation promised to end 'visa-hopping' by preventing students from applying for repeat visas and requiring most visa applications to be made from overseas.
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applications → promise → visas
The Aporia
