Hypocrisy is blocking debate over immigration

LEADERS needs to stop looking for excuses to avoid debate about the immigration rate. Poll after poll says this is what people want, and it’s time the government listened, writes Peta Credlin.

IN recent days, it’s good to hear Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, through administrative measures, has cut permanent migration from 183,000 to 162,000 over the past year.

Of course, permanent migration is not the same as net overseas migration, which last year numbered 240,000. As well as permanent migrants, net overseas migration includes students and other temporary residents like skilled workers who are here for at least 12 months.

Peter Dutton has overseen a cut in migration. (Pic: Bradley Kanaris/AAP)

Net overseas migration includes everyone seeking a better life in Australia and who, therefore, is in the labour market driving wages down or in the housing market driving prices up. It’s been reported that Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Treasurer Scott Morrison had previously rejected a plan from Dutton for a 20,000 cut in permanent migration — a formal change in policy, as opposed to just an ad hoc drop.

When Tony Abbott called for a reduction in immigration to the Howard-era average, until infrastructure, housing and integration began to catch up, Morrison said this was impossible because it would cost the budget some $5 billion. On his own numbers, this would mean Dutton’s 20,000 cut would, proportionally, hit Morrison’s budget by at least a billion dollars.

I haven’t heard much from the Treasurer about this, but his hypocrisy aside, I am hoping he won’t keep using the budget as an excuse to avoid a proper debate about the immigration rate. Poll after poll says this is what people want and it’s time the government listened.