The current Australian treasurer has dismissed a former Prime Minister’s appeal to significantly cut immigration, claiming that the intake level is the same now as it was when he was PM.
According to Scott Morrison, immigration is not currently too high and the immigrants that do arrive in Australia make a significant contribution towards the economy. Former PM Tony Abbott had previously stated that immigration should be cut by 80,000 people a year to increase wage growth and slow growing house prices.
“People who come as skilled migrants pay taxes,” said Morrison, who was the Australian Immigration Minister under Abbott. “They actually make a net contribution to the economy.
“I was the immigration minister for Tony Abbott and the permanent immigration intake we have today is exactly the same as it was when he was prime minister,” he continued. “I don’t recall at any time there was any discussion that that should be lowered at that time.”
Indeed, the figures back up Morrison’s claims. Statistics show that Australia has accepted almost exactly 190,000 permanent migrants every year since 2011. Abbott was Australia’s prime minister from 2013 to 2015.
“The real issue here is that when wages are flat and when people are feeling the pinch, people will line others up as being the reason,” Mr Morrison told Melbourne’s 3AW radio on Wednesday.
Article published 22nd February 2018