Coalition might make an issue of immigration yet

Let’s face it, over the past several years, I have written a zillion words arguing for a reduction in the migrant intake. And to date, no one in the Coalition government has taken the least notice of any of my arguments.

To be sure, there has been the rather ridiculous argument made by the government that while the annual cap on permanent migrants has remained at 190,000, the actual number is more like 162,000. If 162,000 is a better number, why not make that the cap? Or why not make the cap lower still?

On Monday night, Scott Morrison delivered the Bradfield Oration. It was replete with close-to-meaningless homilies about cities and infrastructure.

Unlike other treasurers, Morrison never developed any economic understanding during his term in that office. He still makes unsubstantiated assertions about the economic value of immigration, even though the real story is extremely nuanced.

If there are benefits, they are long-term, and there are winners and losers.

But it may be that the Morrison government is beginning to get it. “Population growth has played a key role in our economic success. But I also know Australians in our biggest cities are concerned about population. They are saying: enough, enough, enough. The roads are clogged, the buses and trains are full. The schools are taking no more enrolments. I hear what you are saying. I hear you loud and clear.”

I wonder how loud and clear he is hearing these complaints. A reduction of 30,000 in the cap will do virtually nothing unless the expectation is that the actual number will come in closer to 130,000.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has given the federal government some space to canvass various options. It would be a tragedy if all that is proposed is a largely meaningless cut to the annual permanent intake.

A much more radical and comprehensive assessment of the immigration program must be made to effect a number of changes and not just in terms of the planning numbers. There are multiple rorts in the system of which the Department of Home Affairs is very aware. These must be dealt with.

Far too many international students, particularly those undertaking bogus vocational education courses, are purely motivated by working in the short term (and being potentially mistreated to boot) and then seeking permanent residence. There is also no case for a universal visa for international students who have graduated to stay in the country — this should be revised immediately.

Within the permanent migrant intake, many of the skilled applicants are not really skilled at all. And employers find it far too easy to import overseas workers rather than recruit and train workers locally. There is also the important issue of the declining English-language skills among new migrants.

If the Morrison government is prepared to significantly adjust the immigration program in terms of both numbers and regulation, this will place considerable pressure on Labor either to follow suit or stick with the status quo. It could actually be game on, politically speaking.