PM Scott Morrison to unveil new national population blueprint

Scott Morrison will today announce a migrant intake cut and two new visas to force skilled workers to live in ­regional areas and ease congestion in Melbourne and Sydney.

Migrant numbers will be slashed by 30,000 a year and two new visas will be introduced to force skilled workers to live in ­regional areas, to ease congestion in Melbourne and Sydney.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will today unveil the federal government’s new national population blueprint. The migrant intake will be cut from 190,000 to 160,000.

Arrivals on the new visas will have to prove they have lived and worked in regional Australia for three years before they are eligible to ­become permanent residents.

Immigration authorities will get more resources in order to ensure that the new migrants remain in the ­regions as required.

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In the wake of the Christchurch terrorist attack, Mr Morrison will also move to ­distance legitimate concerns about congestion from racist sentiments in the community.

He will declare he wants Australians to “spend less time in traffic and more time with their families”.

“We won’t be distracted from the task at hand to make Australia’s cities and towns even better places to live,” Mr Morrison said.

“People who want to play politics or run scare campaigns from these announcements are taking Australians for mugs.

“Targeting our intake will address skills shortages and benefit the economy as a whole. It will take pressure off cities that are straining, while ­supporting the cities and towns keen to have stronger growth.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will today unveil the federal government’s new national population blueprint. Picture: AAP/David Mariuz

The move has attracted fierce criticism from the business community, which claims any reduction to the current rate of immigration will hurt economic growth.

But the Morrison Government says the move will not ­affect the Budget.

Although the migration cap will be reduced, the new ceiling will almost match last year’s actual intake of 162,417. About 23,000 places will be set aside for the new regional visas, to enable regional businesses to fill vacancies faster and ­encourage skilled migrant families to remain there.

Visa holders that don’t comply with the regional ­requirements will risk removal from Australia and will be ineligible for permanent residency.

There will also be more than 1000 new university scholarships — worth $15,000 each year — to attract Australian and international students to study in regional areas.

International students at ­regional universities will be given an extra year in Australia on a post-study work visa.

The move to cut the intake comes as the federal government prepares to announce more Victorian infrastructure projects in next month’s ­Budget, to reduce congestion.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison with Liberal MP Nicolle Flint (left) in Adelaide yesterday. Picture: AAP/David Mariuz

Mr Morrison said managing population growth was not just about the migration intake.

“It’s about infrastructure, it’s about city and regional deals, it’s about our congestion- busting projects, removing traffic bottlenecks, it’s about funding the essential services Australians rely on and providing key skills to rural and ­regional areas.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the overall ­migration intake and “the mix within that” was ultimately a matter for Commonwealth.

“My message to the Prime Minister has been consistent for some time now. If you want to have a debate about the fact that Australia is growing, then why don’t you start by funding hospitals and schools properly? Because that’s what’s at stake here,” he said.

— additional reporting by Tom Minear

@Gallo_Ways