Migration

Shoebridge proposed that the Senate note the response provided by the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. Shoebridge criticised the government's plan to build new immigration detention facilities and fund additional Border Force officers, comparing these measures to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement tactics. Shoebridge argued that the government was contracting with a US private prison corporation and that resources should instead be directed toward processing substantive visas and clearing backlogs.

Faruqi argued that the government's changes would not address housing affordability or grocery prices but would instead harm migrants and separate families. Faruqi stated that the policies would increase fear and uncertainty for people on temporary visas and compound racism against migrant communities. Faruqi claimed the government was pandering to far-right politics by punishing vulnerable groups rather than confronting those with power.

Whitten moved that the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for the Environment and Water. Whitten argued that Australia's annual population growth rate of 1.0 per cent was significantly higher than that of the UK, France, New Zealand, Germany, and the US. Whitten claimed that Canada had outperformed Australia in per capita GDP growth while implementing negative net migration. Whitten asserted that the government relied on mass immigration to mask economic incompetence and failing standards of living for everyday Australians.