Labor is facing an insurgent One Nation. The path it takes on immigration will define its identity for years to come
Guardian AU
β’Sat, 15 Aug 2026 20:00:08 GMT
π° What Happened
Labor is under pressure over immigration as One Nation gains support. Home affairs minister Tony Burke pulled out of a planned National Press Club speech on new immigration policy, a sign the issue is unusually hard for the government. One Nation is attracting about three in ten voters in some polls and blames immigration levels for many of the country's problems. Labor must now decide how to respond.
π The Backstory
Immigration has always divided Labor. Historically the party was the low-immigration side, worried that migrant workers threatened wages and jobs. Building on long-standing working-class attitudes, Labor has a divided soul over the issue. Losing ground to One Nation in suburban and regional seats makes the path forward even more difficult, and the choice Labor makes could shape its identity for years.
π― Why It Matters
How Australia manages immigration affects jobs, housing and community life. The policy the government picks will touch almost everyone in the country.
Labor is under pressure over immigration as One Nation gains support. Home affairs minister Tony Burke pulled out of a planned National Press Club speech on new immigration policy, a sign the issue is unusually hard for the government. One Nation is attracting about three in ten voters in some polls and blames immigration levels for many of the country's problems. Labor must now decide how to respond.
Immigration has always divided Labor. Historically the party was the low-immigration side, worried that migrant workers threatened wages and jobs. Building on long-standing working-class attitudes, Labor has a divided soul over the issue. Losing ground to One Nation in suburban and regional seats makes the path forward even more difficult, and the choice Labor makes could shape its identity for years.
How Australia manages immigration affects jobs, housing and community life. The policy the government picks will touch almost everyone in the country.