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# Coalition flags refugee intake cut, Labor holds 20,000 places
- URL: https://www.bushletter.com/coalition-flags-refugee-intake-cut-labor-holds-20-000-places/
- Published: 2026-08-29T05:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-29T05:00:00.000Z
- Description: Australia's humanitarian program is set at 20,000 places for 2026-27, up from the 13,750 ceiling the Coalition held in 2020-21. The opposition has signalled that the number of annual humanitarian places could fall again under its policy, without naming a figure.
- Author: Editor
- Tags: Politics, Australia, Coalition

![Caleb Reed](https://res.cloudinary.com/dz77sb7j1/image/upload/v1774262572/bushletter/authors/caleb-reed.png)

By **Caleb Reed** · 2026-08-28

TLDR

The Coalition has signalled it may cut Australia's 20,000 annual humanitarian places, tying any future figure to housing construction. Labor is defending the current program while 274,000 applicants wait in the queue.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

01Deputy Opposition Leader Jane Hume declined to name a refugee target, linking any future intake to housing construction numbers.

02Australia's humanitarian program sits at 20,000 places for 2026-27, up from 13,750 under the previous Coalition government.

03274,000 applicants were waiting in the humanitarian queue as of December 2025.

04Greens senator David Shoebridge accused Labor of aligning with One Nation by cutting the refugee intake.

05Industry Minister Tim Ayres said the humanitarian program is a small share of overall migration and needs no change.

Australia's humanitarian program is set at 20,000 places for 2026-27, up from the 13,750 ceiling the Coalition held in 2020-21.[\[2\]](https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/foi/files/2021/fa-210400859-document-released-pt-3.PDF?ref=bushletter.com) The opposition has signalled that the number of annual humanitarian places could fall again under its policy, without naming a figure.

Deputy Opposition Leader Jane Hume declined to commit to a target for the annual number of humanitarian places. "We will announce our migration mix closer to the election based on the number of houses that are built and we'll be responsive and responsible at the time based on the needs at the time," she said.[\[4\]](https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-mark-butler-mp/media/tv-interview-with-minister-butler-sunrise-28-august-2026?ref=bushletter.com)

Industry and Innovation Minister Tim Ayres defended the existing humanitarian program settings for 2026-27\. "There's not a strong argument to move that figure. It's a small part of the overall migration program," Ayres said.[\[5\]](https://www.minister.industry.gov.au/t-ayres/media/interview-laura-jayes-news24?ref=bushletter.com)

274,000 applicants were waiting in the humanitarian queue as at 31 December 2025, according to the Department of Home Affairs.[\[1\]](https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/reports-and-pubs/PDFs/2026-27-humanitarian-program-discussion-paper.pdf?ref=bushletter.com) Any reduction in the annual intake of humanitarian applicants would extend that wait for people in the queue.

Greens senator David Shoebridge attacked the refugee intake positions adopted by both major parties. Shoebridge said Labor had sided with One Nation by choosing cuts to the refugee intake, according to a Greens media release.[\[3\]](https://greens.org.au/news/media-release/labor-siding-one-nation-against-refugees-again?ref=bushletter.com)

The Coalition has not confirmed a final policy figure ahead of the next federal election.

SOURCES & CITATIONS

1. [2026-27 Humanitarian Program Discussion Paper, Department of Home Affairs](https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/reports-and-pubs/PDFs/2026-27-humanitarian-program-discussion-paper.pdf?ref=bushletter.com)
2. [Humanitarian Program 2020-21 FOI Document, Department of Home Affairs](https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/foi/files/2021/fa-210400859-document-released-pt-3.PDF?ref=bushletter.com)
3. [Greens media release: Labor siding with One Nation against refugees again](https://greens.org.au/news/media-release/labor-siding-one-nation-against-refugees-again?ref=bushletter.com)
4. [TV interview, Sunrise, 28 August 2026](https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-mark-butler-mp/media/tv-interview-with-minister-butler-sunrise-28-august-2026?ref=bushletter.com)
5. [Interview with Laura Jayes, News24, Minister Tim Ayres](https://www.minister.industry.gov.au/t-ayres/media/interview-laura-jayes-news24?ref=bushletter.com)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Australia's current annual refugee intake?

The Australian Government has set 20,000 humanitarian places for 2026-27, up from 13,750 under the previous Coalition government in 2020-21.

How many people are waiting for a humanitarian visa in Australia?

As at 31 December 2025, 274,000 applicants were in the humanitarian program queue, according to the Department of Home Affairs.

What is the Coalition's position on the refugee intake?

Deputy Opposition Leader Jane Hume said the Coalition would set its migration mix closer to the election, linking any future number to housing construction. No specific figure has been announced.

![Caleb Reed](https://res.cloudinary.com/dz77sb7j1/image/upload/v1774262572/bushletter/authors/caleb-reed.png)

[Caleb Reed](https://bushletter.com/author/caleb-reed/?ref=bushletter.com)

Caleb Reed covers breaking news and sport. He works to the rhythm of a story as it unfolds, and he is happiest when the facts arrive faster than anyone can spin them.