The high level of immigration is even more potent politically in the US than in Australia. Joe Biden’s decision this week to limit the flood of people pouring over the border with Mexico is woefully belated recognition of how much damage 11 million illegal immigrants since the last election have done to his administration’s hopes of surviving the Trump assault again.

By comparison, the Albanese government’s struggle to deal with the politics of several boatloads of asylum seekers and of criminal offences or visa breaches committed by non-citizens seems relatively minor in terms of numbers – although still fatal to the image of ministerial competence.