Immigration policy must serve Australian interests

Unlike John Howard, whose position was clear and wise — “we will decide who comes to this country and the circumstances in which they come’’ — it is not clear where Malcolm Turnbull stands on immigration. Yet again, the Prime Minister is wasting an important opportunity to lead on a matter of intense public interest. Instead of heading the national conversation, he has resorted to “who said what where’’ games in persevering in his erroneous attack over The Australian’s revelation that Immigration Minister Peter Dutton canvassed lowering the immigration intake from 190,000 to 170,000. Contrary to Mr Turnbull’s line, our story on Tuesday did not claim the discussion took place in cabinet. Three ministers have confirmed Mr Dutton raised the cut at a meeting with cabinet colleagues. Mr Turnbull quashed it.

What matters far more, as Simon Benson reports today, is that in practice Mr Dutton has overseen a reduction in permanent migration. For 2017-18, the total is expected to be between 160,000 to 170,000 — the lowest in a decade. The fall comes as a result of a stronger vetting process overseen by Mr Dutton. Over the past two years, the intake totalled 189,000 and 183,000. This is no bad thing. A healthy level of migration, as The Australian has argued, serves the national interest. So does careful vetting, ensuring those admitted boost our skilled workforce while increasing demand for goods and services, and in turn encouraging more jobs. As a prosperous, open democracy, Australia is in high demand among individuals and families wishing to relocate. We can pick and choose immigrants whose values and aspirations integrate with our own. We should do so with care. Industrious, English-speaking migrants fit in best. That is an excellent reason, aside from humanitarian considerations, for Mr Dutton to carefully but expeditiously consider the claims of terrorised South African farmers. West Australian Liberal MP Andrew Hastie is requesting a special quota of 10,000 farmers be fast-tracked. Assistant Minister to the Treasurer Michael Sukkar agrees.

When Adam Creighton crunched the numbers last week he found skilled South African and English immigrants who arrived between 2001 and 2011 had unemployment rates of 2 per cent — less than half the national average. By contrast, of 70,000 migrants from the Middle East and North Africa since 2006, many on humanitarian visas, 44,000 — about 63 per cent — were unemployed or not looking for work. Overall, a quarter of immigrants from non-English-speaking countries who have arrived since 2006 have not had a job in Australia and three-fifths of those have not looked for one. Mr Dutton was right to tighten English-language criteria for new citizens last year; perhaps tighter standards for family reunion visas would also make sense.

To some degree, immigration policy is shaped by international conditions. Australia was right to take 12,000 Syrians and Iraqis last year. Now South Africans living and contributing well to Australia are beginning to tell their stories of persecution. Mr Turnbull should look at the facts and take a lead.