By fixating on immigration numbers, are our leaders missing the bigger picture for working Australians?

Immigration minister Tony Burke spoke at the National Press Club on Thursday. His speech focused on plans to cut immigration numbers. Writer Sanmati Verma says the speech was really aimed at all working people. She says it shows where politics is heading. Verma argues that all major parties now agree on cutting migration. They only differ on who should be cut. She says the debate is being used to explain problems like housing and low wages.

Australia has argued about immigration for much of its history. Population growth is often blamed for pressure on housing, wages and services. In recent years One Nation and other groups have pushed hard for big cuts. The next election could turn on this issue. Verma writes that blaming migrants misses the real causes of cost-of-living stress. She says anger-driven politics is a symptom, not the cause. She wants leaders to focus on the bigger picture for working Australians.

This matters because immigration rules decide who can live and work here. They also affect housing costs and the jobs market. Voters should understand what is really being debated.