A senior Coalition minister has defended the party’s new immigration policy as budget-neutral, claiming close collaboration with the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) to assess its financial impact. However, Liberal sources contradict this, stating the PBO has not yet completed a full analysis of the proposed measures to slash net overseas migration. While the government insists the policy has undergone scrutiny, backbench MPs acknowledge the costing process remains incomplete, raising questions about its economic implications. The discrepancy highlights tensions between official assurances and internal admissions about the policy’s financial review.
Angus Taylor says opposition ‘worked closely’ with Parliamentary Budget Office but Liberal sources say it has not yet conducted a full analysis of the policyGet our new political email, free app or daily news podcastCoalition MPs concede the party’s newly released immigration policy has not been costed in full by the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO), despite Angus Taylor defending the plan as “budget neutral”.Taylor, and the deputy Liberal leader, Jane Hume, have said repeatedly the Coalition “worked closely” with the independent budget watchdog on its plan to reduce net overseas migration to 100,000 for two years.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s Politics, really newsletter here Continue reading...
