Tony Abbott's calls for cuts to return Australia's immigration intake to Howard-government levels have fallen flat with MPs and demographers, who say the country risks losing a net economic and cultural benefit from new arrivals.

In a speech to the Sydney Institute on Tuesday night, Mr Abbott will call for the Australia's annual intake to be cut from around 190,000 to 110,000 people a year, arguing the move would ease pressure on housing prices and infrastructure in capital cities.