New figures have revealed the critical role migrants play in keeping Australia running as the migration debate heats up. According to Department of Home Affairs data, a significant proportion of workers in essential industries were born overseas.
That includes 57 per cent of GPs, 47 per cent of surgeons, 43 per cent of nurses, 40 per cent of aged and disability carers, 37 per cent of child carers, 37 per cent of plasterers, 28 per cent of building labourers and 52 per cent of farm workers.
“If we didn’t have immigration, the Australian economy would have been in recession for about the last two years or so,” financial expert and former Sunrise host David Koch told 7NEWS.
Migration Debate Heats Up
Migration has long been a hot topic, with some questioning the impact on society and the economy. Anti-migration rallies have blamed new entrants for social division while stoking their own, arguing migration drains the welfare system and dilutes national identity.
“Lack of housing is due to mass migration they’ve allowed to come into the country,” One Nation leader Pauline Hanson said. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has also said that “mass migration is changing Australia for the worse”.
Experts Blame Poor Planning
However, experts say migrants are being unfairly blamed for problems created by poor government planning. “That’s got to stop,” said ANU academic Liz Allen. “This is the failure of policy and politicians to do what they need to do.”
As the temperature of the migration debate ratchets higher, political leaders are promising to cut the intake. Migration policy is now shaping as the defining issue in the next election.
Migration Targets Under Scrutiny
Labor’s net overseas migration target is 225,000 a year. The Coalition has promised below 200,000, and One Nation wants the figure cut to 130,000. Asked what sort of nation he wants to see, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he wanted an Australia “that has the right population”. “I want an Australia that is united, one that has social cohesion at our core,” he said.
