But in the budget reply Dutton did not commit the opposition to a target on net migration, instead promising to slash the permanent migration program by 25% from 185,000 to 140,000 for the first two years, followed by 150,000 then 160,000.
Dutton argued this was being done in “recognition of the urgency” of the housing “crisis”. The policy would reduce the intake of skilled workers and recipients of family visas by a cumulative total of 150,000 over four years.