There’s a push from within Coalition ranks for a parliamentary inquiry into Australia’s expanding population as it’s set tick over the 25 million mark.

The latest Newspoll reveals 72% of respondents support a reduction in the annual permanent migration intake.

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has been consistently vocal on the need to lower the nation’s migration rate.

One half of the Big Guns Andrew Bolt tells Ben Fordham the migration debate is yet another opportunity for the government to “kick” Tony Abbott “in the head”.

“It’s pretty amazing, a few months ago Tony Abbott said to cut immigration intake.

“He got dumped on by the government… now, hallelujah we’re supposed to praise them.

“I mean, what the hell is going on?

“It seems to me that we’re in a very toxic environment where Tony Abbott says something very sensible, the government instinctively kicks him in the head, then, later on, says ‘hmm maybe that wasn’t a bad idea after all'”.

Click PLAY below to hear the full interview

Graham Richardson tells Ben the results sound about right.

“It doesn’t matter where you go in Australia, you come across people who are telling you that migration is too big.

“It is a democracy. If the people overwhelming want something, it’s difficult for the elite to say, ‘no you can’t have it ‘cos we know better.'”