A report by Alan Gamlen, director of the Australian National University’s migration hub, and emeritus professor Peter McDonald, advocates for Australia to set specific immigration targets to achieve a stable temporary population. The share of temporary migrants in Australia has surged from 2.7% in 2010 to over 6% today, straining public services and housing. The authors argue that the focus on net overseas migration has diverted attention from the actual scale of temporariness, contributing to issues like social cohesion and infrastructure pressure. They reference Canada's recent migration policy adjustments, which aim to reduce temporary migrants from 7.6% to 5% of its population, suggesting that Australia could learn from this experience. However, they caution against hasty measures that could harm the economy. Instead, they propose a managed approach where the number of temporary visa holders is aligned with Australia's capacity for permanent settlement, thereby preventing an uncontrolled influx of temporary workers and its unintended consequences. The report emphasizes the need for a more thoughtful governance of migration that goes beyond politically appealing net migration numbers.