Prime Minister dramatically intervenes, confirms no change to Labor's refugee intake
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese intervened to confirm that the national refugee intake will remain at 20,000, contradicting reports that the government planned to cut the program to 13,750. The confusion arose after conflicting statements from the Home Affairs minister's office and backbench MPs.
Why it matters
The incident highlights internal government friction regarding humanitarian policy and the political sensitivity of immigration numbers in Australia.
The prime minister has intervened to confirm the refugee intake would not go backwards. ( AAP: Dean Lewins )
The Home Affairs minister's office has said refugee places will be cut by a third next financial year, falling from 20,000 places to Morrison-era numbers of 13,750.
But the prime minister has said "don't believe everything you read" in relation to those reports.
The move has shocked several Labor MPs, who told the ABC they did not expect the proposed cuts, which have not been canvassed in any caucus forums.
Link copied Share Share article The prime minister has guaranteed Australia's refugee intake will not go backwards, hours after his own cabinet minister confirmed plans to slash the humanitarian program by almost a third from next year.
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