A new report has revealed that skilled migrants help boost Australia’s economy.
A report carried out jointly by the Treasury and the Department of Home Affairs states that the current migration policy set-up is beneficial to the country’s economy.
“Skilled migrants deliver an economic dividend for Australia due to current policy settings which favour migrants of working age who have skills to contribute to the economy,” the report states.
The report’s findings show that Australia’s migration program will add up to one per cent to annual average GDP growth from 2020 to 2050, because it limits the economic impact of the ageing population. It said that Australia’s immigration intake between 2014 and 2015 alone would provide AUS$10 billion to the Australian budget over the next five decades.
The research also debunked the myths that skilled migrants are either living on welfare or robbing local workers of jobs, pointing out that this is simply not the case.
However, it also noted that high rates of population growth can heighten existing pressures on infrastructure and housing and create congestion.
The findings came amid a vocal national debate regarding the current annual migration intake of 190,000.
In early 2018, former Prime Minister Tony Abbott called for the limit to be cut to 110,000 migrants per year.
It was recently reported in the Australian media that Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton had proposed to cut immigration intake from the current 190,000 a year to 170,000. However, this plan was reportedly rejected by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Treasurer Scott Morrison.
Article published 17th April 2018