Immigration figures can get distorted.
Information released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics today seems to confirm that Australian immigration is the driving force behind Australia’s population growth. But does it bear closer scrutiny?
As Julia Gillard rejects Rudd’s ‘big Australia’ plans, the opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison says that a ‘big Australia’ is inevitable unless drastic action is taken to curb immigration in Australia.
Australia’s population has risen by 1 million over the last two and a half years. The ABS states that; “it is the growth net in overseas migration (NOM) that has been the main driver of population growth over the last few years.” Net overseas migration is based on the difference between the number of migrants who stay in Australia for 12 months or more and those who leave for 12 months or more. In the past three years NOM has made up 64% of population growth.
However the ABS also revealed that counted in the NOM were people on temporary visas, such as students. In 2007-08 temporary migrants made up two thirds of all net migration, so is it really fair to say that immigration is the root of Australia’s population problems when most of those immigrants will be returning home?
Of the permanent visas granted for Australia, skilled and family visas remained the most popular. And which country made up the greatest number of visa applications in these categories? The UK, followed by India and China.
So why are so many people turning to Australia in greater numbers? Well the UK is experiencing a recession and a tough budget that will hit everyone hard, so more and more young people are considering migrating to Australia to take advantage of the buoyant economy there. However as they have applied for temporary visas one presumes that they will be returning to the UK once the worst of the recession is over the country starts to experience growth once more. Australia’s problem lies in its success – a success that immigration has helped to build upon and keep strong.
The opposition spokesman for immigration, Mr Morrison is calling on Julia Gillard to make clear her policies on Australian immigration before the next election. As an immigrant to Australia herself, Ms Gillard has made it clear that Australia will still be welcoming for the ‘right kind of immigrant’ – we’ll have to wait and see who that is!
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