Aug 7, 2026 – 9.00amFor the senior ministers of the Albanese government – veterans of the Rudd-Gillard era – the politics of migration carry deep scar tissue. Events of this week have exposed Labor’s acute political anxiety as it struggles to manage the migration numbers.Tony Burke’s directive to his department to deprioritise overseas skilled worker visas in favour of applicants already in the country is a policy sleight of hand to instantly make new overseas arrivals appear lower. Burke also had to cancel Thursday’s planned National Press Club speech due to the incandescent heat of debate that reputedly shook the cabinet meeting earlier this week.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles