Building the Future, Not Compounding the Crisis
When managed with care and vision, migration does not just grow an economy; it truly enriches our nation.
It weaves new threads into our national fabric, bringing fresh ideas, vital skills, and a rich heritage that communities display proudly across regional Queensland. From the Italian and Maltese pioneers whose grit developed the region’s cane farms to the industrious international workers supporting our local agricultural sector, regional Australia understands the immense value of a targeted, functional immigration system.
However, a successful immigration program has to be matched to the country's capacity. Under the Albanese Labor Government, this delicate balance has collapsed into absolute chaos. Labor’s migration numbers have been far too high, while their entry standards have been far too low. By allowing a record 1.4 million people into the country since being elected, the government has created a massive shortfall of roughly 400,000 homes, an infrastructure deficit the size of Canberra's entire population.
Worse still, by dropping the ball on compliance, Labor has failed to protect our social cohesion. The Coalition is committed to restoring integrity to our borders by enforcing a strict, permanent red light to radicals and ensuring visa overstayers are promptly sent home. Moving forward, compliance with the Australian Values Statement will be a universal visa condition; we will ensure everyone we welcome fully commits to our culture, respects our laws, and integrates into our way of life.
This is not a criticism of migrants; it is a rejection of an out-of-control system running blindly ahead of the homes, roads, hospitals, and schools Australia can realistically provide. Every weekend, young Australian couples face the real-life consequences of this policy failure, turning up to rental inspections with dozens of other people while prices skyrocket.
The Coalition's Migration and Housing Pledge is a common-sense solution to this crisis. Our guiding principle is straightforward: Australia should only bring in as many people as it can house. For the first time, net overseas migration will be legally tied to the number of new homes completed. If Australia builds the homes, we can welcome the people; if we do not, we cannot keep bringing people in at an unsustainable pace.
But ending mass migration is only half the battle; we must also aggressively boost housing supply. The Coalition will tackle the root causes of the supply crisis by establishing a $5 billion Housing Infrastructure Fund to get essential last-mile infrastructure, such as water, sewerage, utilities, and access roads, into the ground. Crucially, 30 per cent of this fund will be locked directly into regional areas, ensuring our local councils can unlock up to 400,000 new homes nationwide without being strangled by bureaucracy.
Furthermore, we will make homes cheaper to build by slashing the over-compliance and regulatory wish lists embedded in the National Construction Code. By making costly, radical 2022 energy and accessibility mandates optional, we will hand choice back to the buyer and strip up to $70,000 from the cost of building a new home, unlocking an estimated 120,000 homes over the next decade.
We will also ensure taxpayer-funded housing support prioritises Australian citizens and we will maintain the strict ban on temporary residents buying existing dwellings.
An immigration system must serve the nation, not strain it.
By restoring integrity to our borders and cutting the bureaucratic red tape that halts construction, the Coalition will put a fair go back at the centre of our housing market and ensure that the Australian dream of home ownership is once again a practical reality for local families.
Andrew Willcox, Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing and Sovereign Capability and Federal Member for Dawson.
ENDS
Caption:
A CENTURY OF CONTRIBUTION: Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox celebrated the 100th birthday of Burdekin local Domenica, highlighting her journey as a young Italian migrant as a shining example of the dedication and integration that built regional Queensland.
Contact: Amanda Wright | Media & Communications Adviser
P | 07 4944 0662 M | 0455 456 705 E | Amanda.Wright@aph.gov.au