A pointed call for a national conversation on Australia's migration settings has been issued, amid new data showing net overseas migration has contributed to a population increase of over 1.27 million people since the election of the Albanese government.
Voters Voice Concerns Over Housing and Infrastructure
The debate was ignited by a letter to the editor from Stephen Saunders of O'Connor, who highlighted a recent Resolve Political Monitor poll indicating more than 60 per cent of Australian voters support a pause in immigration to allow housing supply to catch up. Saunders argues this public sentiment is being ignored, stating that "more than 90 per cent of their federal politicians want mass migration to continue."
He labels this disconnect a failure of representative democracy, suggesting voters "haven't got a prayer" of seeing their preferences reflected in policy. The letter points to the official 2024-25 net migration figure of more than 300,000, contributing to what he describes as an "Albo trifecta of 1,275,000" since 2023.
Australia an Outlier as Other Nations Pull Back
Saunders draws a sharp contrast between Australia's approach and that of other major English-speaking nations within the Five Eyes intelligence alliance. He notes that since 2023, other Anglosphere countries have all reduced their migrant intakes, a move undertaken by both conservative and left-leaning governments. Despite this international trend, he asserts Australia "marches on blithely, as a world-outlier. And will pay the price."
The correspondent is critical of the federal government's legislative focus following the December 14 sectarian attack, which has centred on gun laws, anti-Semitism, and security. He claims the underlying policy of "low-skill poor-fit mass migration" is not being discussed, despite its perceived impact on social cohesion and infrastructure.
Broader Letters Reflect Community Discontent
The migration debate featured among several community letters published on January 4, 2026, which touched on diverse issues from cricket broadcasting to local history. Other correspondents expressed strong views on topics including:
- The proposed visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, with a call for an AFP investigation based on UN findings.
- Frustration with the volume of advertising during the Ashes cricket broadcast.
- Support for simple placemaking initiatives, like history walks, to revive Canberra's Civic precinct.
- Concerns that the Richardson review into the Bondi tragedy lacks the authority of a royal commission.
Together, these letters paint a picture of a community actively engaging with complex national and local issues. The strong response on migration, however, underscores a significant and ongoing tension between record-high population growth driven by migration and the capacity of Australia's housing and infrastructure to accommodate it.
