Opposition Leader Sussan Ley's decision to challenge populist Senator Pauline Hanson's increasing poll numbers by tapping into public anxiety over migration levels has been welcomed by Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.
The Northern Territory Senator, who previously vowed not to be silenced on issues backed by "millions" — including migration — posted on social media after reports in the Nine Papers on Monday that Ms Ley, having recently abandoned net zero, will seek advice from John Howard on countering One Nation while directing her shadow ministers to fast-track a new migration policy.
Senator Price welcomed the move, arguing the government needed to "put Australians first" by "prioritising the institution of the family ahead of migration". She added it is "time for the Liberals to stop pandering to sectional interests like the elite metropolitan universities and big business lobbies".
"Labor's mass immigration agenda is putting excessive pressures on housing, infrastructure and services," she said.
"And that makes life tougher for everyone: not just for Australian citizens, but for permanent residents and recently arrived migrants who want to join Team Australia too."
The Opposition's plan is expected to target migration streams beyond international students. Former leader Peter Dutton previously pledged to reduce migration by 100,000 people a year more than Labor.
This shift comes after One Nation surged to an 18 per cent primary vote in the latest Redbridge Poll, only six points behind the Coalition.
Asked on Monday how she would argue for reducing immigration without isolating or offending voters, Ms Ley told Nine's Today the Liberals would do so "by always reminding our wonderful migrant communities of the value that they add to this country".
— Jacinta Nampijinpa (@JNampijinpa) November 16, 2025
Senator Price faced heavy criticism in September after she falsely claimed the government was bringing in migrants "from particular countries over others" to boost votes, citing the Indian community as an example.
She later said her comments — which drew significant condemnation from within her own party — were directed at Labor, not Indian Australians.
That month, she told supporters: "Labor and the Greens treat culture as disposable" and argued mass migration makes life "tougher for everyone".
"Not just Australians, but those migrants who genuinely want to become part of the Australian family. Migration is not just about numbers but about who we are," she said at the time.
Migration has become a significant political flashpoint, with right-wing groups — including some within the Opposition — linking the cost-of-living crisis to high migration levels. WA MP Andrew Hastie, seen by some as a potential future Liberal leader, said last Friday that immigration "will be the next debate".
Polling shows rising voter concern about immigration levels, which increased sharply after the pandemic. A Scanlon Foundation report found almost half of Australians believe migration is too high. However, evidence that immigration directly drives up housing prices remains limited.
Despite mounting pressure, the federal government confirmed in September that the 2025-2026 migration intake will stay at its current level, with a continued focus on skilled migrants. Net migration, which reached a record high of more than half a million people in 2023, is forecast to fall to about 255,000 this year, close to pre-pandemic levels.
In her Monday post, Senator Price — who was removed from the Opposition frontbench after refusing to support Ms Ley's leadership in September — said reducing migration "means more housing, less congestion, and pressure off hospitals and schools - and that benefits all families, regardless of background".
"Putting Australians first means making significant cuts to components of the immigration program, and even considering temporary pauses to components of the immigration program - if that's necessary to clean up Labor's mess," she said.
"We need to end Labor's uncontrolled, unplanned and unsustainable immigration - and restore controlled, planned and sustainable migration."
