‘Performative reductions’: Labor MPs and business groups urge Burke against sweeping immigration changes

MPs say they are anxious for the government to avoid cuts to family and humanitarian visa categories Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Major business groups have urged Labor to suspend its immigration changes and consult further with industry about how to get more skilled workers into the country, amid questions about looming Labor tweaks on permanent migration. With the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, delaying an anticipated immigration speech by at least one week, some Labor MPs say they are anxious to avoid major changes to the family and humanitarian visa categories, with one urging against “performative reductions” in migration in response to One Nation. But other Labor sources characterised Burke’s changes as tweaks to existing settings, with an expected focus on enforcement of existing rules and small pruning of various programs. “Tony’s doing an absolutely fantastic job of ensuring, that our immigration program which is so vital for us economically, vital for our vibrancy … the world’s most successful multicultural nation. But it must be properly calibrated,” said the energy minister, Chris Bowen. Burke was to deliver a National