Scott Morrison Suggests Plan To Cap Migration Numbers

Scott Morrison has floated the idea of cutting migration numbers across the country to curb congestion in our major cities.

The Prime Minister reckons places like Sydney are struggling to cope, and he wants the states and territories to get involved in saying how many they can take.

"The roads are clogged, the buses and trains are full. The schools are taking no more enrolments. I hear what you are saying. I hear you loud and clear," he said at the Bradfield Lecture in Sydney on Monday night.

“We have become, especially in Sydney and Melbourne, a victim of our success.

"The Sydney story on population is not just a migration story. It's also a quality of life story."

It's a backflip on his stance as Treasurer, saying a cut would hurt the budget bottom-line with Populations Minister Alan Tudge trying to defend the change on the ABC.

"It's not a one-size fits all," Mr Tudge told ABC TV on Tuesday.

"We want to support the aspirations and the capacity of each of those states to grow so we can support the growth in some of the smaller states.

"But we might ease the pressure on the growth in Melbourne and Sydney, who are really struggling with the very rapid growth, most of which is driven by migration."