Scott Morrison is preparing to slash the number of migrants coming to Australia after declaring the roads are clogged and schools are full in the nation's biggest cities.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
But while his proposal might prove popular among many voters, the idea has drawn swift rebukes from opposition parties, migrant groups and the property industry.
In the clearest signal yet on his government's impending population policy, the prime minister has confirmed he is considering lowering the annual migration intake by 30,000 places.
"Population growth has played a key role in our economic success. But I also know Australians in our biggest cities are concerned about population," Mr Morrison said in a speech on Monday.
"They are saying: enough, enough, enough.
"The roads are clogged, the buses and trains are full. The schools are taking no more enrolments. I hear what you are saying. I hear you loud and clear."
His pitch is largely targeted at audiences in Sydney, Melbourne and southeast Queensland, where overcrowding is at its worst.
Australia has an annual immigration cap of 190,000 places.
There were 160,000 permanent visas approved last year - a difference of 30,000 places.
A Fairfax-Ipsos poll published on Monday found 45 per cent of voters want immigration reduced, with 23 per cent arguing for a rise and 29 per cent happy with the status quo.
Hours before the prime minister's speech, cabinet minister Christopher Pyne insisted there was no need to put a "handbrake" on population growth.
"We need to manage our population growth sensibly in a country which quite frankly can take a lot more than 25 million people," Mr Pyne told Sky News.
Mr Morrison wants state and territory leaders to bring their own population strategies to the next Council of Australian Governments meeting in December.
Population Minister Alan Tudge anticipates South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory will push to have more migrants in their capital cities.
"It's not a one-size fits all," Mr Tudge told the ABC.
Labor leader Bill Shorten believes overcrowding could be tackled by offering more affordable housing.
"Some politicians today talk about slowing down the population whilst the cities catch up," Mr Shorten told an industry conference in Melbourne.
"Building social housing is exactly what needs to happen to catch up."
Greens leader Richard Di Natale echoed Mr Shorten's sentiments.
"Rather than blaming migrants, the blame lies in the government's inability to have a comprehensive infrastructure plan," he said.
Property Council of Australia chief executive Ken Morrison said the government needed to look at other cities around the world for inspiration.
"Immigration doesn't create bad planning: bad planning creates bad planning," he said.
The Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia criticised the government's idea as "divisive".
"It is not good enough for the nation's prime minister to abandon long-term vision for our future and opt for short-term populist politics," chairwoman Mary Patetsos said.
Australian Associated Press
