The Coalition announced its population and immigration policy over the weekend.

The policy focuses heavily on immigration rather than the broader approach that we have taken in the National Farmers Federation (NFF) Election Platform http://www.nff.org.au/read/2487379675.html.

We assume that the Coalition will, at some stage during the election campaign, have more to say on other matters that we raised in the context of population - including infrastructure, taxation and skills.

From an immigration perspective, the Coalition's policy very much reflects the key components of our policy. The Coalition has announced:

• The liberalisation of 457 visa to make it more accessible for business, especially small business and businesses in regional areas with proven skill shortage needs;
• Encouragement of temporary and permanent residents in regional and rural areas; and
• An increase in resettlement of entrants from refugee and humanitarian program in regional areas, where resettlement has proven successful.

There is a lot of focus on the Coalition's plan to cap new immigration to 170,000. The NFF does not have a policy position as to a cap. However, we would be concerned if a cap restricted capacity to meet our estimated labour shortages of 100,000 jobs over the next 5 years. In the short-term, on current levels, we do not foresee a problem with the 170,000 cap, but a mandatory level gives rise to little flexibility in meeting emerging business needs.

Overall, it is our view that the Coalition has taken a very positive position on immigration policy from an agricultural and regional Australia point of view.