Voters overwhelmingly want lower immigration

Thursday 24 September 2026

After 20 years of mass immigration, which has seen Australia’s population grow at more than 2.5 the rate of the OECD, voters have had enough.

The latest Newspoll shows a clear public shift: about two‑thirds of Australians want lower immigration, including large shares of Labor voters.

This comes as both major parties face pressure from One Nation and independents, and as Treasury’s Intergenerational Report argues long‑run population growth will continue to rely heavily on migration.

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About the author

Leith van Onselen is Chief Economist at the MB Fund and MB Super. He is also a co-founder of MacroBusiness. Leith has previously worked at the Australian Treasury, Victorian Treasury and Goldman Sachs.