One Nation's proposal to slash temporary migration has drawn criticism from the agricultural, business and education leaders, amid warnings the policy risks turning migration into a "political football" and could push Australia into recession.
On Monday, One Nation unveiled its plan to reduce Australia's temporary migrant population by 750,000 over three years by cutting student, graduate, temporary skilled, and bridging visas, as well as removing illegal migrants.
Michael Guerin, the chief executive of the National Farmers' Federation, said his organisation was yet to see the policy details but said it could hurt regional Australia.
One Nation said the Working Holiday Maker program and the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme — which allows businesses to hire from Pacific countries when there is a local worker shortage — would not be affected.
The federal government has already moved to slow backpacker arrivals, pausing applications from 24 of the 29 eligible countries last month amid a record number of working holidaymakers already in Australia.
Business groups have also raised concerns about One Nation's proposed cuts, with Business Council of Australia chief Bran Black warning they could have a "significant detrimental impact on our economic growth".
Citing Treasury forecasts, Black said the country's budget deficit — forecast at $31.5 billion in 2026-27 — was expected to increase in coming decades due to Australia's ageing population.
Group of Eight chief executive Vicki Thomson, representing Australia's leading universities, issued a similar warning about cuts to student numbers.
Andrew McKellar, the chief executive of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the migration debate should not be driven by a "set of arbitrary numbers".
One Nation has defended the proposed cuts.