Peter Dutton keeps blaming migration for the housing crisis. But can it really be that simple?

The rise in housing costs has been extraordinary. The growth in population has not

• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast
• See all our Australian election 2025 coverage

Any way you look at it, and whether you like it or not, migration is shaping up as a major issue for the 2025 election.

As Jim Chalmers did the rounds of media outlets to sell his fourth budget, the treasurer was regularly challenged about the boom in net overseas migration since Labor came to power in 2022.