DEAR News Of The Area,
IMMIGRATION is seen by some as our most important issue, not just now, but for some years. However there have been some rubbery figures tossed around recently.
It’s not too difficult to find the facts.
Following the closure of the Australian borders due to the pandemic, the Coalition in 2022/23 granted 538,000 visas.
From that year net immigration has continued to decrease.
In the year ending June 30 2024 net immigration was 429,000 and to June 30 2025 it was 306,000.
These figures are lower than the Treasury had predicted, and they predict that net immigration numbers will continue to fall.
It is important to recognise the difference between net immigration and the number of visas: net is actual increase in our population with more people staying than leaving.
In 2024/25 the majority of immigrants came from China, India, the UK and New Zealand, with numbers from the first two falling and numbers from the UK. and NZ rising comparatively to the previous year.
Temporary visas were the largest contributors to migrant intake: 363,000 down from 458,000 the previous year.
Of these foreign students comprised 157,000, down from 204,000 the previous year.
As our universities now depend on foreign students for much of their funding, we need these students.
People on working holidays numbered 78,000, visitors 56,000 and people on temporary skilled migration visas 46,000.
The median age of migrant arrivals in 2024/5 was 26.
Throughout the history of Australia since colonisation in 1788 there have been debates about who should come here.
Conservative and Labor governments have welcomed people fleeing repressive regimes, many arriving with the little they could carry.
Some have brought their disagreements with them, but the majority have been so grateful to have a safe place to live they have worked very hard to make this country a better place.
Multiculturalism has enriched our lives in so many ways.
My forebears came as economic refugees from the UK, knowing that they would have a better life here, and I think I’m not alone in that.
Regards,
Barbara LYLE,
Tea Gardens.
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