Immigration Cuts on the Table in Oz

Immigration in Australia has been relative stable over the last decade, but then the pandemic came and brought a halt to that. But since then, it’s been full steam ahead! That backlog of people wishing to come to Australia, well, their dreams came true, in spades! There was record overseas migration last year. If you look at the proportion or residents born overseas, it’s been steadily (rapidly?) increasing since the 1950s to its current level of over 30%. We are a nation of immigrants.

Now of course, immigration is sometimes used as a scapegoat for other political and societal issues, but I think this time round, it’s really starting to hurt. Think about it mathematically. If you keep letting more and more people in, but don’t build enough housing, schools, hospitals, not to mention other infrastructure like water and electricity, well that’s going to end in disaster.

There’s really only two things that can be done. We either build more infrastructure to keep up with the ever-increasing population, which is something we simply haven’t been able to do, and increasingly looks like we can’t do, or we cut immigration. Isn’t that the easiest option? I mean, it’s our country after all. It’s not like there’s an external force making us accept hundreds of thousands of new people every year. It’s ultimately a choice. We either continue along this path of continual housing crises, or we give ourselves a breather, so we have a chance to fix it.

This is not just me rambling. I haven’t just been released from the asylum screaming that “Immigration is evil!” Other people agree with me. Take for instance the Premier of Queensland, Steven Miles. You might not like him, but he sees the writing on the wall. There’s too many people. He broke ranks a couple of days ago, as reported by the ABC, “Queensland Premier Steven Miles calls for reduction of overseas migration. The Queensland government says the state’s population increased by 144,000 people – 2.7 per cent – in the year to September, which was the highest growth on record in absolute terms.” Mr Miles said the population was climbing faster than homes could be built and urged the federal Labor government to consider reducing overseas migration levels. The Queensland Treasurer, Cameron Dick, said migration levels are just becoming too difficult for the state to manage, telling the ABC that he wants to see international migration levels halved! Whatever the federal government think they’re doing, is just not sustainable.

Well, Albanese’s Government have reacted. “Government to cap international student numbers. In a move to cut migration, the Albanese government will limit the influx of international students by capping the number of new students.” They’ve basically tightened English-language requirements, and plan to create a genuine student test to crack down on those looking to come to Australia primarily to work rather than study. But of course, students are mostly temporary visa holders, are they not? So what are the Albanese Government going to do regarding the reduction of permanent migration?

Well, this is the Department of Home Affairs Immigration and Citizenship website. “On 14 May 2024, the Australian Government announced that the planning levels for the 2024–25 permanent Migration Program will be set at 185,000 places.” Okay, how much was it before? Last year, the planning levels were 190,000 people per year, made up of about 70% skilled and 30% family visas. This year, it’s been reduced to 185,000. That’s a yearly reduction of 5,000 people. It’s almost laughable, it it not? How is a reduction of 5,000 people going to fix anything? That’s only a reduction of about 2.6%!

Actually, the top national news on the ABC this morning was about Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton: “Dutton calls to slash permanent migration and international student numbers. Peter Dutton has announced that if elected he will reduce annual permanent migration from 185,000 to 140,000.” It’s better, I suppose. I don’t know if it’s enough, but as I said, we need to give ourselves a breather to catch up with housing construction, and so on.

Pauline Hanson’s One Nation have openly stated that “Big Australia is a Big Mistake”. They have a “zero-net migration policy”.

In the name of fairness, I’d like to show you the Australians Greens immigration policy. Of course, there’s a picture of a miserable looking boy behind barbed wire. Their policy is quite long and wordy, and consists of dozens of principles and aims, of course, invoking the “climate crisis”. I can’t seen any reference to exact numbers, but I suppose to be fair to them, they’re not in government. Although, Greens Leader Adam Bandt had a few choice words to say recently about Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton.

Anyway, I think Albanese has realised that immigration has become a problem, not just for Australia, but also for his political future.

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Allégro by Emmit Fenn