Immigration: the xenophobia trap

Australia

Australia's population grew by 624 000 in 2023 to 26.6 million (106 000 by Natural causes (births minus deaths), and there were 518 000 net immigrants.

The promise from both sides of politics is a reduction in these numbers.

Will that actually happen, and is it really in Australia's best interest?

Many of the so-called 'new migrants' are actually already here. As all sides of politics know very well, they arrive by air on a visitor's visa and outstay their visa. By the time the authorities catch up with them, they are already settled in Australia, with a job and accommodation. Mostly, they are allowed to stay.

So, in reality, the discussion about restricting immigration is a myth. All it does is create an opportunity to point fingers.

United Kingdom

The UK population in 2024 is 67.9 million. In 2023, there were 1.2 million arrivals, and 500,000 people left the country. In 2023, there were 18000 more deaths than births, so the population growth of 700,000 was all due to immigration.

29,000 people crossed the English Channel in small boats in 2023 (.024 % of the total intake of 1.2 million), which is irrelevant in the scheme of things, but all we hear about are small boats crossing the English Channel and plans to send them all to Rwanda.

It seems that governments in Australia, the UK, and most western governments focus on rhetoric and promise a reduction in immigration when the facts tell a different story.

Australia has developed one of the most successful multicultural societies in the world. We now have an opportunity to build on this by encouraging reasonable levels of migration, especially in areas where there is a shortage of skills. There will be an ongoing housing shortage in the short term, but if there is a continuing shortage of tradespeople due to lower migration levels, this will turn out to be a long-term problem.

Does Australia want a declining and ageing population or a vibrant, dynamic, growing Country?

Can't we just be honest with ourselves and have a straightforward discussion about Australia's needs, given the shrinking and ageing population?

Surely, a bipartisan approach to this critical issue, vital to Australia's future, is what is needed now, rather than parties just trying to score points off each other.