Immigration expert warns Australia's net overseas migration target is 'numerical theatre'

An immigration expert has told the ABC political debate about net overseas migration is "numerical theatre about the wrong number" as he urges policy makers to focus on addressing temporary migration instead.

Australia's net overseas migration number, or NOM, measures all migrant arrivals minus all migrant departures, with two thirds of the current 306,000 figure comprised of temporary visa holders like working holiday makers and students.

Professor Alan Gamlen from ANU's Migration Hub says Labor's plan to limit the NOM to 225,000 by 2028 would be a pointless exercise.

"I would say having a net migration target is a bad idea. If you have a target its always going to be missed," he said.

"Missing those targets leads to a lack of confidence in the government to control migration, which is what happened in the UK before Brexit."

While Labor's plan appears largely focused on regulating temporary visas holders like students and backpackers, Gamlen says the NOM also accounts for Australian citizens and permanent residents, whose movements can't be controlled.

"Other countries to who we compare ourselves have abandoned this idea a long time ago. Canada targets just temporary migration."

Universities Australia chief executive Luke Sheehy says he's "deeply worried" about Labor's upcoming overhaul of migration.

The home affairs minister will announce an overhaul of migration at the National Press Club today, six weeks after it was abruptly postponed.

The ABC understands the announcement could include an effective ban on international students bringing family members to Australia.

But Sheehy has told ABC News Breakfast any move to cut international students leave universities with a funding gap.

The chief executive says successive governments have for decades encourage universities to attract international students.

He says the universities sector relies on skilled researchers, half of which he says come from overseas.

"I'm going to look at the detail but the question is fewer international students means a bigger gap in how we fund our world class university system. And the next question for the government is, are you going to step up and pay for it?" Sheehy says.

"I think is this going to do lasting damage. We've already seen the world's highest visa application fees. We're sending the wrong signals at a time when international students can help turbocharge not only our universities the way we operate, but our skills base for the future."

Hello and welcome to our federal politics live blog! It's great to have you join us early this Thursday morning.

I'm Josh Boscaini joining you live from Parliament House in Canberra, here and ready to bring you all of today's federal politics news.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke is expected to outline the government's much-anticipated overhaul to migration at the National Press Club today.

We expect Burke's announcement will target families of international students seeking to come to Australia.

Let's get this show on the road and see what the final sitting day of the sitting fortnight brings us!