“The number of people coming to settle in Australia reached record highs, as the size of Australia’s migrant population is growing larger than ever. The Albanese government has been unable or unwilling to genuinely reform our migration system,” said Dr You.

“Records continue to be smashed with this government’s promise to cut migration in absolute tatters, as half a million would-be migrants arrived on a net basis over the twelve months to January – the highest in recorded history,” said Dr Kevin You, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Public Affairs.

Today, the Australian Bureau of Statistics updated its Overseas Arrivals and Departures database, with the reference period January 2026. IPA analysis of the data shows:

  • Net permanent and long-term arrivals (i.e., people who have arrived in Australia with a declared intention to stay in the country for 12 months or longer) in January 2026 were 57,270, the highest January net arrivals on record.
  • Net permanent and long-term arrivals totalled 494,540 in the twelve months to January 2026, the highest in recorded history.