Coalition's migration cap target sits below Australia's permanent migration level

The Coalition wants net overseas migration under 180,000 a year. Australia's permanent migration level is already set at 185,000 — and that's just the permanent stream, before temporary arrivals are counted. NOM was forecast at 260,000 for 2025-26 but reached 311,000. Net overseas migration measures arrivals minus departures, making it hard to control precisely through policy.