Liberal MP Leon Rebello said a confidential Reserve Bank of Australia memo identifies migration policy as a primary tool for influencing the housing market.

The claim suggests that federal immigration levels are directly contributing to the current housing crisis, potentially undermining government efforts to lower living costs for citizens.

Speaking during Question Time in Canberra, Rebello cited the internal RBA document to argue that the Labor government's approach to immigration has exacerbated the lack of affordable housing. He said the policy has increased demand for homes, making them less accessible for both long-term residents and recent arrivals.

Rebello specifically highlighted the scale of recent arrivals to support his position. "This government has brought in a record 1.4 million migrants [1], so isn’t it the truth that Labor's migration policies have made it harder for Australians, including new Australians, to afford a home," Rebello said.

According to the MP, the secret memo confirms that migration is a main way the government influences the housing market. The assertion links the record intake of 1.4 million people [2] to a surge in housing demand that outstrips available supply.

The Liberal MP used the parliamentary session to challenge the government's transparency regarding the RBA's findings. He said the impact of these policies on the housing market is a critical issue that requires public acknowledgment, and policy adjustment.

While the government has not released the memo, Rebello's statements place the RBA's internal analysis at the center of the political debate over urban density and home ownership. The focus remains on whether the volume of migration is a primary driver of price inflation in the residential sector.

“"A secret internal RBA memo says that migration policy is a main way the government influences the housing market."”

This development highlights the tension between Australia's economic reliance on migration for workforce growth and the resulting pressure on infrastructure and housing. By citing a confidential RBA memo, the opposition is attempting to shift the narrative from general economic trends to specific government policy failures, framing the housing crisis as a direct consequence of immigration volume rather than just interest rates or construction delays.