QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Mr ALBANESE (Grayndler—Prime Minister) (14:32): I thank the member for Lyne for her question. I do want to state that it is just a fact that under this government we have cut net migration by around 45 per cent from its peak. The number of people arriving now is lower than it was under the coalition.

Indeed, the former immigration department deputy secretary under the coalition has said this: … the Coalition stomped on the accelerator. They did all sorts of things we've never done before, in order to increase the numbers … Indeed, the Grattan Institute as well—Brendan Coates—has said that the coalition is wrong to suggest record migration is the result of policy decisions by the Albanese government.

The single biggest policy change contributing to record migrant numbers is the pandemic-era decision by the former coalition government to first relax and then completely uncap working hours for international students from January 2022. Thirdly, I have some more facts. Population growth is expected, in the population statement that was released in January, to slow to 1.3 per cent in 2025-26 and 1.2 per cent in 2026-27, which is lower than the average of 1.4 per cent that was experienced during the decade of the 2010s.

By 2030-31, Australia's population is expected to be 754,000 smaller than what the former coalition government was forecasting prior to the pandemic. Ms Mascarenhas interjecting— The SPEAKER: The member for Swan is warned.