The fight over immigration could decide the next election. Labor has to take the gloves off

‘Tony Burke’s careful and measured approach won’t be enough to wrest back the policy and political fight on immigration from Pauline Hanson.’ Photograph: Lukas Coch/Reuters

After weeks of delay on his immigration announcement, Tony Burke appeared at the National Press Club with just a few pages of handwritten notes.

Burke’s speech on Thursday – pushed back due to internal politics within the Albanese government – was short on rhetoric and stuck mostly to explaining the changes designed to bring down net overseas migration (Nom), without knee-capping the economy.