The government’s migration policy announcement was long-awaited, but the contents ultimately fell short of expectations.
- Honorary Professor of Demography, Centre for Health Policy, The University of Melbourne
No one can seem to agree what the level of migration to Australia should be. This is partially because governments don’t really make careful, considered plans.
There are growing tensions in Australia’s migration policy. So far, the Albanese government has not tackled it - but the Liberals’ approach will not solve it either.
Now is not the time to cut immigration, given the contribution it makes to the economy. Arguments that migrants are pushing up house prices are largely wrong.
Slashing the permanent migration intake will do little to help manage population growth and may well make building more homes even harder.
The recent increase in net-overseas migration has been due to policies that enabled people to remain in Australia rather than policies enabling more people to arrive.
Cutting migration to Australia’s biggest cities would do nothing to ease congestion in those cities and could make it worse.
Business Briefing: breaking down the 457 visa myths
The Conversation16.4 MB (download)
Policies targeting the 457 visa workers scheme aren't going to improve the employment prospects for low skilled workers and Australia's unemployed, an expert says.
The announcement that controversial mining billionaire Gina Rinehart is to use new Enterprise Migration Agreements to employ 1715 foreign construction workers on her $9.5 billion Roy Hill iron ore project…
