Taylor pledges migration cap in budget reply

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor delivered his first budget reply speech in Parliament on Thursday night, pledging sharp cuts to immigration, restrictions on welfare for non-citizens, and tax indexation to counter Labor's federal budget and the Coalition's recent by-election defeat in Farrer.

Taylor proposed capping net overseas migration at the number of new homes built in the previous year, a policy he described as delivering one of the biggest reductions in Australian history. With about 175,000 homes completed last financial year, the cap would reduce current net migration levels, forecasted at 295,000 this year and dropping to 225,000 by 2027-28. He also promised to deport tens of thousands of visa overstayers and require Australian citizenship for access to 17 welfare programs, including the National Disability Insurance Scheme, family tax benefits, and paid parental leave. Existing recipients would retain benefits, and healthcare access would remain universal.

The speech revived elements of former leader Peter Dutton's platform, including a $5 billion housing infrastructure fund to support water, sewerage, roads, and utilities for new developments, potentially unlocking...