Thanks for posting this. The Media Watch transcript is a useful quick summary,

In fact, there are reliable migration numbers laying about—and what do they show?

"Over the 12 months to 31 December 2024, NOM [Net Overseas Migration] was estimated at 341,000 – a decrease of 190,000 (36 per cent) …"

• Email, Department of Home Affairs Spokesperson, 21 August, 2025

Which paints a somewhat different picture, no?

And while, yes, the data has been used as an indicator of long-term migration trends, the experts we spoke to assured us that rather than being overwhelmed by migrants in fact, we’re getting fewer:

"… it is our expectation that net overseas migration will continue to fall when the next round of numbers is published in September …"

• Email, Peter McDonald, Emeritus Professor of Demography, Australian National University, 22 August, 2025