Hastie urges rethink of migration as housing, fertility concerns sharpen debate

Liberal MP Andrew Hastie has urged a renewed national debate on immigration, housing and Australia's identity, saying many Australians feel like 'strangers in our own home.' In a post shared on social media on Wednesday, Hastie linked the housing crisis and declining fertility to what he described as unsustainable levels of net overseas migration. 'Our allegiance is to the Australian people,' Hastie said. 'And making sure they have a roof over their heads. Like we did after World War Two. But many young Australians have lost hope of owning a home. And, if they can't build a home, it's very hard to start a family.'

He argued that fertility is at a historic low, citing a figure of 1.5 births per woman, and contended that population growth is now driven primarily by migration. 'In 2023–24, the Net Overseas Migration rate was 446,000 people, the largest group being temporary students,' he said. 'In the last two years, we've added nearly a million extra people to our population.' Hastie also blamed Labor's immigration policies for perceived strains on infrastructure, schools, hospitals and housing. 'Australians are locked out of the housing market. Many are house poor, spending most of their income on rent or mortgages,' he said. 'Labor talk about a housing supply crisis, but this is a housing demand crisis, driven by unsustainable immigration. It's that simple.'

Hastie, a former special forces officer who has signaled ambitions to lead the Liberal Party, warned that the party risks political irrelevance unless it acts on migration. 'We must act. Net Overseas Migration must be taken down. If we don't act, we can expect anger and frustration. We might even die as a political movement.'

The remarks drew swift condemnation from Independent MP Allegra Spender, who represents Wentworth in Sydney's eastern suburbs. Spender called for respectful debate and cautioned against divisive rhetoric. 'The cohesion of our society matters,' she said. 'Falsehoods or sly innuendo in this debate can damage the country that we all hold dear, the diverse and vibrant multicultural Australia we must all work together to maintain.' She drew a historical parallel to British politician Enoch Powell, noting that Hastie's post echoed Powell's warning that white British people could feel like strangers in their own country. 'Is Hastie, who has said he wishes to lead the Liberal Party and the country, harking back to Enoch Powell because he is ignorant of history? Or is he using Powell's words deliberately?' she asked.

Spender, who spoke of her upbringing with her mother, iconic Australian designer Carla Zampatti, emphasized that 'Australia is a nation where half the population was either born overseas or had at least one parent born overseas.' She cautioned against normalizing divisive rhetoric and pointed to the March for Australia rallies, where neo-Nazi groups and violent clashes drew attention, arguing such echoes belong in the past.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke reacted on Wednesday, criticizing Hastie while urging more specifics. 'Modern Australia must be strange to a Liberal Party that stubbornly refuses to enter the 21st century,' Burke said. He pressed Hastie to present an immigration plan with details, rather than rhetoric, noting that net overseas migration is down more than 40 percent and challenging Hastie to name the visa classes he would slash.

The remarks come as Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price also called for lower migration numbers in a CPAC address in Brisbane last weekend. Andrew Hastie was contacted for comment.}