One Nation Says Its Migration Plan Could Cut Rents by Up to $4,300 a Year

One Nation says its proposal to temporarily cut migration so that it’s in net negative territory could give Australian renters an extra $2,000 to $4,300 a year, according to modelling released by the party.

Leader Pauline Hanson released the figures in a post on X on Oct. 8, saying that reducing immigration would ease competition for rental properties and lower housing costs.

“It’s simple. Less people coming into the country means less competition at rental inspections and cheaper rent,” Senator Hanson said.

The conservative-leaning party’s modelling projects that One Nation’s three-year immigration reset cutting rental costs by 6.5 percent compared with projected levels without the policy, potentially saving the average renter about $54 a week.

Under the plan, One Nation wants more people leaving Australia than arriving over a three-year period, resulting in negative net migration.

After that period, net migration would be capped at 130,000 per year.

Temporary migrants and unlawful non-citizens would also be cut my more than 750,000 over these three years.

“We should be exporting education, not selling migration. Too many students are majoring in permanent residency while Australians are drowning in unskilled migration,” Hanson said.

What does the Coalition Plan for Migration?

One Nation’s proposal comes as migration and housing affordability remain key political issues, with the Coalition also promising substantial cuts to immigration.

The Coalition has unveiled its own plan to reduce net overseas migration to 100,000 people a year for the first two years, compared with One Nation’s net-negative target for the first three years.

Under the Coalition’s plan, annual net migration would then rise to 130,000 in the third year and 160,000 in the fourth year.

However, One Nation’s proposed cap of 130,000 after the initial three-year period would be higher than the Coalition’s annual target.

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor said the Coalition’s approach would focus on both migrant numbers and the skills of those entering Australia.

“We need skilled migration, not mass migration,” he said.

“We will prioritise migrants with the skills Australia needs, who share our values and are committed to contributing to our country.”