Labor is facing an insurgent One Nation. The path it takes on immigration will define its identity for years to come

Labor has always had a divided soul over immigration.

Now it faces a predicament as it looks to hold on to suburban and regional seats

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The Albanese government places party unity before most other considerations, so it is notable that there is more than one opinion in cabinet about what to do about immigration policy.

The decision of the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, to https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/05/labor-plans-migration-cuts-as-tony-burke-pulls-out-of-major-speech">pull out of a National Press Club speech this month, having intended to announce a new policy, suggests that this is an unusually difficult issue for the government.

One Nation, attracting three in 10 voters in some polling, makes no bones about blaming immigration levels for most of the country’s ills.