'Completely the wrong decision' or 'really positive': cut to net migration draws mixed reviews

The federal opposition claims the government's migration reforms will make the housing crisis worse amid a shortage of skilled tradespeople. His comments have raised fears the major political parties are using migrants as scapegoats, even as business groups and unions largely welcome the changes.

Mixed responses to government plans to cut net migration (AAP) Source: AAP

Key Points

• The new Skills in Demand Visa will fast-track visa processing times to just seven days for workers applying for jobs with salaries over $135,000. But the measure, known as the specialist skills path, will exclude tradespeople, machinery operators and labourers.
• The federal opposition claims the government's migration reforms will make the housing crisis worse.
• Greens leader Adam Bandt accuses Mr Dutton of unfairly blaming migrants, and the government of bowing to Coalition pressure.