As many head to the polling booths how many more will head for Australia?
As the people of the UK flock to polling booths today in what has been described as a ‘cliffhanger’ election, popular emigration destination countries such as Australia really ought to be on standby to receive a flurry of disgruntled voters – no matter how the voting goes.
Indeed numbers of British people migrating to Australia have been steadily rising.  In 2009 the Office of National Statistics revealed that 427,000 people emigrated to Australia from the UK, that’s a 25% rise from 2007.
Work appears to be the main reason for emigrating to Australia. 53% of those moving to Australia had definite jobs to go to. In these times of uncertainty for the UK it appears that more young people are leaving to seek opportunities elsewhere. Back in March we told of how record numbers of young Irish people are leaving their recession-ridden country for the golden beaches of Australia.
Applications for Australian working holiday visas issued to Irish nationals had risen by 33%, indicating that many were planning to return home within a year.
In the run-up to the UK election there were those threatening to emigrate abroad if the Conservatives/Labour get in. Minor celebrities vent rage at Labour’s taxation plans whilst Union leaders predict an employment apocalypse if the Tories win. Back in 1997 Paul Daniels, Phil Collins, Frank Bruno and Noel Edmonds all promised to leave the country if Labour came into power. Sadly only Phil Collins kept his promise.
This year celebrities have been more cautious in making such pledges and whilst the likes of David Tennant and Eddie Izzard have publicly come out in favour of Labour, they have shied away from guaranteeing their imminent departure should the Conservatives gain the upper hand.
No, it will be the great British public who may well end up voting with their feet after the elections. Economists are warning of a double dip recession; the party leaders are being coy as to proposed cutbacks and immigration is suddenly the word on everyone’s lips.
So why Australia? Well despite the changes the Australian Department of Immigration has made to visa legislation, there remain good opportunities for skilled applicants. Australia is still experiencing skilled labour shortages in areas such as Western Australia where there is a huge mining boom and recent taxation changes mean that miners are reaping the rewards of their occupations. Families are choosing to live in Australia because of the outdoors way of life and the benefits that brings to children. For savers, Australia remains lucrative with relatively strong share prices and a favourable stock exchange.
The UK election results promise to be interesting, but what will be more interesting is to see if emigration figures peak once more as unhappy voters seek an easier way of life elsewhere, and Australia continues to be the popular option.
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