Population Milestone Reached as Migration Figures Spark Political Clash
Australia’s population has officially surpassed the 28 million mark for the first time, a significant demographic milestone largely attributed to overseas migration. New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reveals the nation’s population grew by 412,500 individuals in the year ending December 31, 2025.
Migration Drives Growth, But Rate Declines
Net overseas migration (NOM) accounted for a substantial 301,000 of this increase, representing nearly three-quarters of the total population growth. The remaining 111,500 individuals were added through natural population increase. While this NOM figure is approximately 9 percent lower than the previous year and over 45 percent down from its post-Covid peak in 2023, overall migration trends remain historically elevated.
Analysis of the data indicates that migration has consistently remained above 300,000 people for 14 consecutive quarters, a period spanning over three and a half years. This sustained high level suggests a stabilization within a specific range, rather than a temporary surge. Over the past four quarters, annual NOM figures have hovered around 309,000, 302,000, 309,000, and most recently, 301,000. For the first half of the 2025-26 financial year, NOM stands at 145,000, falling short of the full-year Budget forecast of 295,000.
Government Attributes Changes to Policy Success
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated that the latest migration figures demonstrate the effectiveness of the government’s current strategy. “As the data shows, we are bringing migration down with a sensible, measured approach to provide the skilled workers Australia needs, while addressing exploitation and rorts,” Minister Burke commented on Thursday.
He further elaborated that the reduction in temporary visa holders and international student numbers reflects a prioritization of specific skills crucial for sectors like healthcare and construction. International student migration has seen a 10 percent decrease, returning to pre-pandemic levels, while visitor migration continues to decline due to stricter visa regulations. Concurrently, an increase in departures of working holidaymakers is noted as individuals who arrived after the border reopening following Covid-19 begin to leave the country.
Opposition Argues Migration Still Too High
In contrast, the opposition contends that migration levels remain excessively high, continuing to exert significant pressure on housing, infrastructure, and essential services. Shadow Immigration Minister Senator Jonno Duniam argued that the ABS figures contradict the government’s narrative.
“Labor keeps trying to tell Australians that the migration numbers are coming down, but the latest ABS figures again portray a very different story,” Senator Duniam stated. “A NOM figure of 301,000 is still far too high – particularly at a time when Australians are struggling to find a home, rents remain under extreme pressure and public infrastructure and services are badly stretched.”
Senator Duniam emphasized that the current figures represent a sustained trend rather than a fleeting anomaly. “This is not a one-off number. Net overseas migration has now remained above 300,000 for 14 straight quarters – in other words, for three-and-a-half years,” he added. He also dismissed the government’s emphasis on the decline from the 2023 peak, asserting that migration levels are still unprecedented compared to the former Coalition government’s tenure and have been persistently high for an extended period.
