Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the Opposition’s plan to reduce migration and impose a two-year ban on foreigners buying Australian homes would hurt the economy and divide the local community.
However, Mr. Chalmers said this would make “nowhere near the difference” that Mr. Dutton is claiming.
“His budget reply was dark, it was divisive—intentionally so—and the net effect of all that would be that he would destroy the budget and damage the economy,” he told the ABC.
The Labor government has its own plan to halve overseas migration and decrease permanent migration, but Mr. Chalmers said that the economy and skills base were considered when creating it.
The Labor government also has the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF), an $10 billion (US$6.7 billion) investment fund. The income generated by the HAFF aims to provide disbursements used to deliver 20,000 new social and 10,000 new affordable houses over five years.
Migration to Regional, Rural Areas to Remain Open
In response to whether the cut to migration will hurt regions, National Leader David Littleproud said this plan would address the nation’s pressure points while recognising economic necessities.“This is about making you use the policy levers ... to make sure we get that balance right,” Mr. Littleproud told Sky News on May 19.
“This is about making the tough decisions that prioritise where the economy needs the support to continue to grow - and particularly in the regions.”
For example, Mr. Littleproud said he and the Liberal Party would work together to ensure that regional universities dependent on international students still receive student numbers and support.
The coalition would also establish an agriculture visa for migrants to work in farming and periphery—marginal or secondary—roles in regional Australia.
Increasing Retirement Saving Withdrawals
The coalition also plans to allow up to 40 percent withdrawals from retirement savings to buy a first home for a maximum of $50,000 (US$34000).However, Mr. Littleproud defended the plan as an individual component of a broader policy.
“It’s about buying time to increase supply and also giving that hope to young people that one day they might actually own their home,” he said.
