SOME experts, when commenting on our housing shortage, place the blame on high levels of immigration creating greater demand than supply.
Australia’s long-term net migration average is about 250,000 a year.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, net overseas migration was 446,000 in 2023-24, down from 536,000 a year earlier.
The largest group of migrant arrivals was temporary students, accounting for 207,000 people.
While tighter limits have existed in the past based on our ability to house new arrivals, governments have backflipped on these as foreign students provide good financial outcomes for our universities.
But how do we house these students?
The traditional concept is that once these students achieve their degrees they return home and boost the economy of their homeland.
However, many of our overseas students have been told that once their value is increased by obtaining a degree, they have a much greater chance of permanently migrating to Australia and come here with this in mind.
A survey by economist Leith Van Onselen revealed that 68.4 percent of international students intended to remain in Australia for the long term.
Our government says one of the best ways to reduce pressure on the housing market is to reduce immigration, including student numbers from overseas.
Then when a reduction of foreign students coming to Australia looks like driving the profitability of universities down, all of a sudden they are happy to let the number of students skyrocket.
Who said you can’t jump up and down in the same motion and have the electors believe you?
By John BLACKBOURN
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