Overseas students one of main contributors to rising net overseas migration to Victoria

IMMIGRATION to Victoria has soared, with overseas student levels almost doubling in 13 years as the government tries to lure migrants from big cities to rural centres.

A MASSIVE increase in foreign student arrivals has underpinned the rapidly rising rate of immigration to Victoria this century, new figures show.

Release of the data comes as a federal government minister showed support for a “bigger Australia”, but focused away from the big cities and into regional areas.

Since 2004, annual net overseas migration to Victoria has more than doubled to 84,720 last year, according to tables buried in the recent ABS report Migration Australia 2016-17.

This included a jump in overseas student arrivals from 18,930 in 2004 to almost 36,000 in 2017.

IMMIGRATION TO MELBOURNE AT RECORD LEVELS

REPORT: IMMIGRATION CUTS WOULD EASE HOUSING CRISIS

MORE THAN 55,000 FOREIGN STUDENT VISAS CANCELLED OVER FOUR YEARS

Christmas crowds in Melbourne.

Among other temporary visa holders, visitor numbers rose from 4520 to 17,930, while working holiday arrivals went from 1260 to 7400 over the same period.

The total number of temporary migrant arrivals in 2017 was 62,170 — up from 26,200 in 2004.

Total permanent migrant numbers increased from 16,950 to 24,920 over the same time.

Net overseas migration is the total number of permanent and temporary migrants coming annually, minus the number leaving.

Minister for Population and Cities Alan Tudge.

On the weekend, federal Population and Cities Minister Alan Tudge backed a “bigger Australia” with more decentralised cities.

“I think that Australia can be bigger, but that we will do well by having a broader distribution,” he reportedly said.

Mr Tudge said the government would seek advice on population policy from experts like the Australian Population Research Institute’s Dr Bob Birrell.

Dr Birrell said on Sunday that the vast majority of migrants were currently settling in cities like Melbourne and Sydney for jobs and to be near their ethnic groups.

“It will take some very tough measures to divert those migrants to regional areas,” he said.

Migration expert Dr Bob Birrell.

Dr Birrell said that the overseas student influx in recent years was boosted by successive government policies to allow students to move from student visas to other temporary visas and back again.

“Also, since 2011, all overseas students who enrol in higher education courses can stay in Australia, no matter what the course, for at least two years with full work rights,” he said.

“That concession is crucial — it’s a big attractor that migration agents overseas can tell students thinking of coming to Australia.”

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