Albanese’s first term sets new record for immigration as figures reveal one-third born overseas
Labor is accused of putting unnecessary pressure on inflation with 1.15 million migrants arriving since they took power and new figures revealing one-third of Australians were born overseas.
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Labor has been accused of putting unnecessary pressure on inflation by running a “Big Australia by stealth” program that has seen Australia bring in a record 1.15 million migrants since taking power.
According to an analysis of migration patterns by parliamentary term, this means that with months to run in its first term, Anthony Albanese’s government has brought in 62 per cent more migrants than the Rudd-Gillard government, which was the previous record holder.
The research also shows that this government has already brought in more migrants in just 27 months than the entire Hawke-Keating years which ran for 156 months – more than five times the length of the current government.
The data also revealed that nearly one-third – 31 per cent – of Australia’s population was born overseas, up from 22 per cent in 1983 and far higher than nations like Canada and the United States, where 21 and 15 per cent of the population were born overseas respectively.
In the last financial year, 92,940 migrants – or 18 per cent of the total intake – came from India, followed by migrants from China (12 per cent) and the Philippines (8 per cent).
Nepal, Colombia, the UK, Vietnam, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Thailand rounded out the top ten sources of migration.
“The Albanese government is a pale imitation of the Hawke-Keating years. It is clear it has no plan for economic growth, other than the shortsighted, lazy approach of bringing in record amounts of migrants, rather than doing the hard yards of real economic reform,” said Dr Kevin You, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Public Affairs.
“Migration has and will continue to play a critical role in Australia’s story.”
“However, the current unplanned, record migration intake is placing immense pressure on housing and our infrastructure, has not solved our worker shortage crisis and is leaving Australians worse off,” he said.
Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Dan Tehan said, “The numbers don’t lie. Labor has been running a Big Australia by stealth policy which has led to 1 million migrants arriving in just two years as Australians endure a housing crisis.
“The RBA has acknowledged that migration under Labor has contributed to inflation and that has led to 12 interest rate hikes and the cost-of-living pain being felt by Australians.
The Minister for Home Affairs was contacted for comment.