Overview

• In a speech to the Migration Institute of Australia, Scarr warned the immigration debate must not inflame emotion and defended Australia’s multicultural tradition.
• He criticised Andrew Hastie’s use of language associated with Enoch Powell’s 1968 rhetoric and contrasted it with a measured, fact-based discussion.
• Citing ABS data, he noted net overseas migration hit 315,900 in the year to 31 March 2025, well above the roughly 216,000 pre‑COVID average.
• Scarr argued migration levels should be set with housing supply constraints in mind and said credible proposals must detail visa categories and policy levers.
• He attacked Labor’s decision to hold the permanent program at 185,000 for 2025–26, calling the late, brief announcement poor practice and urging multi‑year planning to maintain social licence.