Albanese retains Australia's refugee intake target

• Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the annual humanitarian intake will remain at 20,000 places.
• The decision overrides a planned reduction to 13,750, complicating net overseas migration targets of 225,000 by 2027-28.
• Government policy aims to balance humanitarian commitments alongside existing border security measures.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has maintained Australia's annual humanitarian visa intake at 20,000 places, overturning a planned reduction to 13,750.

The decision reverses a Home Affairs Department proposal to lower the quota to long-run base levels to help manage net overseas migration, which currently stands at 306,000.

"This intake number remains government policy and will be continued in future years, consistent with Australia’s humanitarian commitments, and sits besides our strong border security measures," said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

The maintaining of the 20,000 quota puts pressure on the government's target to reduce net overseas migration to 225,000 by 2027-28.

Federal measures will now focus on reducing other migration streams to meet overall population targets.

Labor's broader policy platform continues an aspiration to progressively increase Australia's humanitarian intake to 27,000 places annually.

The government is also reviewing visa settings for three million temporary residents to manage migration levels.