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Emily Foley, Postdoctoral research fellow, Flinders University; University of Canberra

BIZARRE: Migration is dropping but public concern is climbing why - You Need To See This

Net overseas migration is declining. It peaked in 2023, and as of mid-2026 it has dropped by 45%.

Yet public sentiment has moved the other way. The Lowy Institute’s 2026 poll, released last week, found 55% of Australians believe the number of migrants coming to Australia each year is too high. That is a record for the poll, up two points from last year and seven points from 2024.

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